High ranking Syrian army officials defect to Turkey

18/07/2012 19:01

ERBIL, July 18 (AKNews) – Two Syrian army commanders with the rank of brigadier-generals were among some 600 Syrians who fled from Syria to Turkey overnight, Turkish media reported.

Today’s Zaman quoted a Turkish official saying the number of Syrian generals sheltering in Turkey is now 20, including a retired general.

It could not immediately be confirm if other defected officers had also arrived in Turkey in the last 24 hours but a number of lower-ranking soldiers usually accompany defecting generals.

The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey rose to 43,200 after 600 more arrived overnight,.

Turkey is planning to open a new refugee camp with the growing number of Syrian refugees crossing the border into Turkish territories to flee violence in their country.

According to Turkish media, the new camp will accommodate about 10,000 more refugees.

RY/AKnews