Syrian's first astronaut, Major General Mohammed Ahmed Faris, announced his defection from the Syrian army in video footage posted on YouTube on Sunday evening.In the video Faris tells the Syrian rebels: "Our hearts are with you."
According to the Turkish Andalou News Agency, General Faris met with commanders of the Free Syrian Army before crossing the border into Turkey.
The defection is the latest in a string of high-profile desertions, including a senior Syrian intelligence officer and members of Syrian President Bashar Assad's inner circle.