Syrian army continues military operation with tanks against rebels in the city of Homs 0802122

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Defense News - Syria
 
 
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 09:37 AM
 
Syrian army continues military operation with tanks against rebels in the city of Homs.
The Syrian military is reportedly moving deeper into residential areas in the city of Homs, a day after the Russian foreign minister said President Bashar al-Assad was "fully committed" to ending the bloodshed. Activists said the army was firing rockets and mortar rounds to subdue opposition districts on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, as tanks entered the Inshaat neighbourhood and moved closer to Bab Amr.
     

A Syrian forces tank moves along a road during clashes with the Syrian army defectors, in the Rastan area in Homs province, central Syria, on Monday Jan. 30, 2012.
     

The army is "shelling us, using rockets, using mortars, using Russian tanks," he said. "Tanks are trying to break into the neighbourhood of Bab Amr."

Activist Hadi al-Abdallah said that at least 43 people were killed overnight in the central city.

“Some areas are completely sieged. There is no internet, no landlines or mobile lines," he said.

Al-Abdallah said there had been no retaliation by the armed opposition because the government forces were shelling from positions several kilometres away.

The official state news agency said "armed terrorist groups" had attacked police roadblocks in Homs and fired mortar bombs at the city, with three falling on the Homs oil refinery.

Syrian forces heavily shelled the restive city of Homs on Monday, february 6, 2012, and troops pushed back dissident troops from some suburbs on the outskirts of Damascus in an offensive trying to regain control of the capital's eastern doorstep, activists said.

Opposition groups say at least 7,000 people have died since the anti-Assad uprising began 11 months ago.