Thursday, June 21, 2012

Syria crisis: colonel 'defects' as jet lands in Jordan

The Guardian

"12.14pm: Syria: Jordanian minister of state for information Samih al-Maaytah, has confirmed that the pilot has asked for asylum.
Reuters quoted him saying: "He requested political asylum in Jordan. He is being debriefed at the moment."

Military analysts reckon that Syria has 140 MiG 21 in service.

12.06pm: Syria: The Syrian fighter jet made an "emergency landing" at a northern Jordanian airbase, according to AP, citing a Jordanian official.

The official says the Russian-made MiG-21 landed Thursday at the King Hussein Air Base in Mafraq, a north Jordanian town near the Syrian border.

He declined to provide other details. Two other officials gave similar accounts.All three spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

11.54am: Syria: It is highly unusual for the state news agency to give credence to reports about military defections.
But this brief statement, is giving the story legs....."

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