After Turkey intercepted two missiles from Iran in the last few days, it has stepped up its protection with a U.S. Patriot air defense system deployed to the country’s southeast, near the Kürecik NATO radar base in Malatya province, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced Tuesday.

Officials said the move is partly to help NATO improve its ability to detect and intercept missiles after Turkey endured two such attacks recently. The Turkish Defense Ministry said that placing the system in Malatya will help NATO coordinate with Turkish defense systems and NATO efforts while protecting Turkish airspace. It also said that the Kurecik radar base provides key data to NATO and played a critical role in detecting and identifying the ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward Turkey.

Despite Turkey’s repeated warnings to Iran not to violate its airspace, Iran has continued to fire into Turkey while denying that it is intentionally targeting Turkey.

During talks Monday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iran’s newly elected supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the two leaders discussed the ongoing situation.

“In addition to the measures we take on a national level, air and missile defence measures by NATO have been increased. In that framework, one Patriot System is being deployed to Malatya to contribute to defending our air space,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Turkey will remain on the alert as it coordinates closely with NATO allies, according to Turkish officials. Meanwhile, the U.S. plans to move its Patriot missile defense systems stationed in South Korea and other military equipment to new locations, according to a Reuters report.

Turkey credited the NATO alliance with helping it to intercept missiles from Iran that had invaded its airspace. NATO’s air defense systems, operating in the Mediterranean Sea, coordinated with Turkey in bringing down the missiles. The Kürecik radar base in Malatya province, a key NATO facility that detects and sends early warnings about missile threats, also helped to detect the incoming missiles from Iran.

The addition of the Patriot missile system brings the number of Patriot missile systems in Turkey to two, the first one having been provided by Spain, another NATO ally, as part of Turkey’s air defense system.

As of now, Turkey’s military operations are focusing purely on defense, following NATO protocol and coordinating closely with the alliance to maintain protection of the country.