Syrian Brigadier General Manaf Talas, the son of former defense minister Mustapha Talas, has defected to Turkey, according to a senior Syrian security source, cited Thursday evening by a Turkish news agency.

The younger Talas served as commander of Brigade 105 in the Republican Guards and was considered to close to President Bashar Al-Assad. He is the most senior officer from the Republican Guards to join the rebels opposed to Assad.

Full Story