Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Reportedly Defects A high-level official with Syria’s Foreign Ministry has defected, according to reports on Monday, which have suggested that he left the country.Friends Read FreeSaveSyrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad al-Makdissi addresses journalists in Damascus May 27 regarding the massacre in the central town of Houla. (Louai Beshara/AFP/GettyImages)By Alex Johnston12/3/2012Updated: 10/1/2015Print