Syrian government forces have once again returned to the central city of Homs, where there have been conflicting reports about the number of protesters killed since Monday.
One victim was a 15-year-old boy who died on Tuesday when security forces opened fire at a checkpoint. In addition, five bodies were later discovered dumped in the street, apparently from raids that took place on Monday, activists told reporters.
Raids were carried out in Sunni Muslim districts where daily anti-government protests have continued despite the brutal government crackdowns.
Speaking via Skype and telephone to reporters outside the country, activists said security forces had “completely besieged” the city.
“When I go to the balcony, I can see the snipers on the tall building in front of me,” described one resident who requested anonymity for fear of retribution. “It's a nightmare,” he told the Washington Post. “A really big number of activists were arrested.”
Most land and cellular phone lines and the Internet have been cut off, according to the Reuters news service.
Tanks moved in at dawn and began firing heavy machine guns randomly at houses in Bab Tadmur, the Washa district and Bab Dreib. Prominent activists were reportedly arrested Tuesday in Hama, Dara'a, Deir al-Zour, Latakia and in the suburbs of Damascus.
U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford wrote on the Embassy's Facebook page that America supports Syrian citizens' right to protest.
“Given the extent of the government's brutality, neither the Syrian protest movement nor the international community will believe that this Syrian leadership desires or is capable of the deep, genuine and credible reforms that the Syrian people demand,” Ford wrote.
Although the U.S. and European members of the United Nations Security Council are in favor of sanctions against Syria, both Russia and China -- the other two permanent members of the Council -- have refused to engage any discussion on the matter, thereby ending any chance for the international body to impose sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.