BEIRUT | A Turkish Foreign Ministry official says a Syrian brigadier general defected to Turkey in recent days. If confirmed, it would be one of the highest level defections from the regime since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.

File – In this Thursday, June 14, 2007 file photo, NATO member country flags are seen outside NATO headquarters in Brussels. A spokeswoman on Sunday, June 24, 2012 said NATO’s governing body will meet Tuesday, June 26, 2012 to discuss the Syrian downing of a Turkish plane. Turkish officials say a jet was on a training flight Friday when it strayed into Syrian airspace, but was in international airspace when it was shot down. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo File)
File – In this Jan. 18, 2012 file photo, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu speaks during a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. A spokeswoman on Sunday, June 24, 2012 said NATO’s governing body will meet Tuesday, June 26, 2012 to discuss the Syrian downing of a Turkish plane. Turkish officials say a jet was on a training flight Friday when it strayed into Syrian airspace, but was in international airspace when it was shot down. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

Thousands of soldiers have defected from the Syrian regime, but most are low-level conscripts. The rebel Free Syrian Army, whose leadership is based in Turkey, is made up largely of defectors who want to bring down President Bashar Assad’s regime by force of arms.

The Turkish official asked that his name not be used because he is not authorized to speak publicly.

Brig. Gen. Mostafa Ahmad al-Sheik, who fled to Turkey in January, was the highest ranking officer to bolt at the time.

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Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey.