Syria Using Advanced Iranian Missiles: US

The Syrian military has fired two missiles in the past week that US officials believe are a newer, more-accurate model from Iran. These Fateh A-110 missiles have less range than the Scud variants the regime has been relying on, with a maximum distance of 125 miles versus 185. But they have an error radius of just 330 feet, compared to 1,480 feet for the Scuds, CNN reports. In other Syria developments:

• Turkish officials say two regime air force generals have defected, joining rebels across the border, the AP reports. The defections come one day after the head of Syria's military police did the same.
• Russia's foreign minister says he has contacted Syria's opposition in the hopes of meeting with the group. Russia has been a consistent backer of Bashar al-Assad, and still hasn't formally recognized the Syrian National Coalition; the meeting represents a major step in that direction.

(More Syria stories.)