The most prominent defection so far in the conflict was that of Colonel Riad al-Asaad last July, who helped set up the rebel Free Syria Army after taking refuge in Turkey.

Last week Brig. Gen. Ahmad Berro, head of a tank unit in Aleppo province, fled with his family to Turkey.

Though a boost to Assad’s foes, the pilot’s defection could complicate the international scenarios of a conflict that many governments fear could spill over Syria’s border and spread though the already volatile Middle East.

Ties between Jordan and Syria were already strained - Jordan has criticized Assad over his crackdown on the uprising but has been restrained in its rhetoric.

Amman is nervous over a possible Syrian military reaction after months of border tension as thousands of Syrians flee the violence to Jordan.

A Jordanian official, who asked not to be named, said the incident with the pilot was “difficult to handle”.

MORNING BARRAGE

In Homs, dawn broke to heavy shelling but the barrages eased up during the day, resident Waleed Faris said.

“Now I can hear one or two mortars fall every half an hour. It is quiet today compared to the past few days,” he said.