From the latest edition of the DEBKAfile newsletter and somewhat belatedly the Turkish military preparing for further conflict with Assad Syrian military forces all the while insisting on American protection.
"Turkey asks US to post Patriot missiles against Syrian attacks
21 February.
"In fear of reprisals from the Syrian army, Turkey has asked the US to deploy two Patriot anti-missile batteries on its southern border before ramping up its offensive against Russian-backed Syrian forces in Idlib. A clash with those troops on Thursday [20 February?] left two Turkish soldiers dead and five wounded in Idlib, raising the number killed in the last three weeks to fifteen. Turkey may use F-16 fighters to strike Syrian units if it had US Patriots protecting its southern border."
Syrian Civil War first fighting between internal Syrian factions. Then the use of proxies of foreign interventionists, and now regional war with an international dimension.
AMERICA BEHOLDEN TO TURKEY AS A CONSTITUENT MEMBER OF THE NATO ALLIANCE? IF THE TURK INSISTS AMERICA MUST COMPLY?
Whatever happened to the proposed deal between the Turk and Russia, the purchase of top-of-the-line S-400 air defense missile system?
See recent previous blog entries [some with additional links] as applicable to the situation:
https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/02/spiraling.html
https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/02/b-c.html
coolbert.