The United States has sent troops to Jordan to bolster its military capabilities in the event Syria's civil war escalates, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday, reflecting U.S. concerns about the conflict spilling over allies' borders and about the security of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.

Speaking at a NATO conference of defense ministers, Panetta said the U.S. has been working with Jordan to monitor ...

Pentagon officials called the defection of Syrian Army Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass “significant,” saying this could be the first crack in the inner circle around Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.

Tlass sought asylum in Turkey, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby.

“He is a former friend of Assad, so we don’t believe this defection should be taken lightly,” Kirby said. “It’s another example of a senior member in ...