Short-range ballistic missile again fired in Syria

A short-range ballistic missile was fired inside Syria on Wednesday following similar launches last week, a NATO official said Thursday. "We detected the launch of an unguided, short-range ballistic missile inside Syria yesterday. This follows similar launches on 2 and 3 January," the official said. The official added that "all missiles were fired from inside Syria and they impacted in northern Syria. None hit Turkish territory." The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation could not provide further details on the type of missiles but condemned their use. "The use of such indiscriminate weapons shows utter disregard for the lives of the Syrian people. It is reckless and we condemn it," the official said. Since the start of December 2012, the 28-nation military alliance had detected at least 15 launches of unguided, short-range ballistic missiles inside Syria, none of which hit Turkey, the official added. On December 21, however, the alliance said the use of ballistic missiles by the Syrian regime posed a threat to NATO member Turkey and decided in consequence to deploy ground-to-air Patriot missiles there. It insisted the deployment "will be defensive only." Germany, the Netherlands and the United States are supplying the Patriot missile batteries.