Story highlights Two U.S. military officials say the Syrian regime fired at least two Fateh A-110 missiles 
 
 The move is an apparent attempt to more precisely target rebel forces, the officials say 
 
 They decline to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information 
 
 The missiles are more accurate than older Scuds, which have a longer range 
 
 The Syrian regime this week fired at least two Iranian-made, short-range ballistic missiles in what appears to be an effort to more precisely target Syrian rebels, two U.S. military officials tell CNN. 
 
 The Fateh A-110 missiles are more accurate than the older Scud variants that Syrian government forces have used in recent weeks. 
 
 The U.S. military officials declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information. The Iranian government has not commented on the issue. 
 
 The Fateh trades range for accuracy. It can travel about 125 miles, while the Scud can go about 185 miles. But the Fateh has a "circular error probable" or -- CEP -- of 330 feet, while the Scud's CEP is 1,480 feet. CEP is defined as the radius of a circle in which half of a missile's lethal payload falls and is the standard measure of a missile's accuracy. 
 
 The firings did not reach near Syria's Turkish border. But the regime's use of ballistic missiles is the reason NATO is planning to send U.S., German and Dutch Patriot missile batteries to Turkish military installations: to protect the southern regions of that NATO ally. All six Patriot batteries are expected to be in place by the end of January. 
 
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 A NATO official could not confirm the use of short-range ballistic missiles this week, but NATO did detect the launch of such missiles inside Syria on a few December days, more recently on the 22nd. 
 
 "The fact that Scud-type missiles were used in Syria emphasizes the need for effective defense protection of our ally Turkey," the NATO official said. "This is why, earlier this month, NATO allies decided to deploy Patriot missiles in Turkey to augment Turkey's air defenses. The deployment, which will start within weeks, is defensive only. Its aim is to deter any threats to and defend and protect the population and territory of Turkey." 
 
 U.S. officials say they believe the Syrians are firing ballistic missiles to preserve their aircraft, some of which have been shot down by rebels. ||||| Officials at Turkey's Foreign Ministry say two Syrian air force generals have defected and crossed the border. 
 
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 In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, smoke rises from buildings from heavy shelling in Homs,... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this image taken from video obtained from the Shaam News Network, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, smoke rises from buildings from heavy shelling in Homs,... (Associated Press) 
 
 The defection comes as rebels besiege the military air base of Mannagh near the Turkish border. 
 
 The officials said Friday the two generals were "regional Syrian Air Force commanders" and are now in a camp where army defectors stay in Turkey. 
 
 They refused to give the generals' identities or say how they escaped from Syria. They spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to talk to the press. 
 
 The defection comes days after the commander of Syria's military police Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Jassem al-Shallal defected to Turkey. 
 
 Al-Shallal is among the most senior members of Assad's military to defect. 
 
 Dozens of Syrian generals have defected since the country's crisis began in March 2011.
– 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.