A group of around 150 people gathered in front of the German embassy in Ankara on Tuesday, protesting against the deployment of Patriot missiles near the Syrian border.

Demonstrators chanted slogans, including "Germany, take your Patriots and get out of Turkey!"

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are each sending two Patriot missile batteries to Turkey after Ankara asked NATO to beef up security along its volatile border with Syria.

Four batteries of Patriot missiles -- two each from Germany and the Netherlands -- reached Turkey on Monday, a NATO source said.

NATO approved their deployment in December, saying the use of ballistic missiles by the Syrian regime inside Syria posed a threat to Turkey.

But Syria's allies Iran and Russia oppose the Patriot deployment, fearing that it could spark regional a conflict, also drawing in the military alliance.