(CNN) -- NATO foreign ministers have approved Turkey's request for Patriot missiles to defend its borders, a statement of "solidarity" with its fellow alliance member. "Today NATO agreed to augment Turkey's air defense by deploying Patriot missiles to Turkey. Turkey has asked for NATO's support and we stand with Turkey in the spirit of strong solidarity," said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. "To Turkish people we say, we are determined to defend you and your territory. To anyone who would want to attack Turkey, we say, don't even think about it. " The move is in response to the spilling over of the Syrian civil war into Turkey, where errant Syrian artillery shells struck the border town of Akcakale and killed five Turkish civilians in October.
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155 Syrians are dead Tuesday, including 30 in a shelling at a school, the LCC says
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Syrian forces are mixing chemical warfare agents, a U.S. official says
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The Syrian Foreign Ministry denies plans to use such weapons
And this is also the reason why it is a matter of urgency to ensure effective defense and protection of our ally @placeholder," he said.