First U.S. anti-aircraft missiles operational in Gaziantep The first 2 American Patriots missiles are operational outside the town of Gaziantep (43 km from the Syrian border). NATO organized a visit for the international press on the Turkish base where 300 U.S. soldiers are stationed. In total, more than 1,000 NATO troops were deployed in the Turkish-Syrian border. 3 NATO countries are involved in this operation: the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. Their mission: to protect about 3 and a half million Turks living on the border with Syria, who may be directly affected by Syrian missiles. Images and soundbites