At least 75 Syrian government soldiers, including a general and two colonels, have defected to the rebels and fled to Turkey, opposition activists said on Thursday, dpa reported.
Some 350 soldiers have defected since Monday, the activists said. The latest defections occurred on Wednesday, they added.
Rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad have in recent month escalated their military campaign and control large areas in Syria.
"There are areas like Homs and Deir al-Zour and even districts near Damascus that the regime forces cannot enter because they are under the total control of the revolutionaries," rebel commander Abu Alaa told dpa.
France will on Friday host representatives from some 100 Arab and Western countries as well as the Syrian opposition to discuss the 16-month conflict.
The "Friends of Syria" talks aim to draw plans to end the bloodshed.