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Syria conflict: Assad forces strike Homs Syrian forces pound rebel-held areas of Homs
(about 9 hours later)
Syrian war planes and ground forces have struck at rebel-held districts of the city of Homs, say activists. Syrian forces have launched a major offensive against rebel-held parts of the city of Homs.
Aircraft, tanks and mortar units attacked districts including Khalidiya and Jouret al-Shiya, they said. Aircraft, tanks and mortar units attacked several areas, activists say. Unverified footage showed clouds of smoke from explosions across the city.
Saturday was "one of the most violent days that Homs has witnessed since the beginning of the revolution," an activist told AP news agency. Syrian state TV said the army had achieved a "great success" in Homs after "killing many terrorists".
The tide of Syria's civil war has been turning against anti-government rebels in recent week, say correspondents. The attack follows gains in Homs province by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad in recent weeks.
Building on their recapture earlier this month of the strategic town of Qusair - near Homs and the Lebanon border - the forces of President Bashar al-Assad have taken villages nearby and launched fresh offensives on Homs, an important centre of rebel resistance. They captured the strategically important town of Qusair, between Homs and the Lebanese border, in early June.
However, in recent days rebels are also reported to have made gains in fighting in the southern city of Deraa. On Friday rebels claimed to have captured a major army checkpoint from which it controlled one of the main roads into the city centre. Rebel stronghold
'Great success' Rebels say communication lines in Homs were cut on Saturday morning, before the bombardment began.
In the Khalidiya and nearby Old City districts of Homs, shelling had been continuous since 10:00 (07:00 GMT), activist Tariq Bardakhan told AP on Saturday afternoon. The city has been a rebel stronghold since the uprising against President Assad began more than two years ago.
An activist in Homs told the Associated Press news agency that the assault was "the worst campaign against the city since the revolution began".
In the Khalidiya and nearby Old City districts of Homs, shelling had been continuous since 10:00 (07:00 GMT), activist Tariq Bardakhan told the agency on Saturday afternoon.
It followed reported shelling in Khalidiya on Friday.It followed reported shelling in Khalidiya on Friday.
Unverifiable videos uploaded on to the internet showed plumes of smoke rising as violent explosions shook parts of the city. It is hard to be sure how many civilians have stayed in Homs after two years of civil war in which their streets and suburbs have become a battleground, but for those who have stayed this was a desperate day, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in neighbouring Lebanon.
Syrian state TV was quoted as saying the army had had "great success" in the battle for Homs, "killing many terrorists in the Khalidiya district". The UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least two civilians had been killed, and there had been clashes around the historic Khalid Ibn al-Walid mosque in Khalidiya.
Two civilians had died, the UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on its Facebook page. Elsewhere in Syria rebels have claimed some victories, reportedly making gains in fighting in the southern city of Deraa in recent days.
It said violent clashes were taking place around the historic Khalid Ibn al-Walid mosque in Khalidiya, which had earlier caught fire. On Friday opposition forces claimed to have captured a major army checkpoint from which it controlled one of the main roads into the city centre.
Gains in parts of provincial Homs have consolidated the government's control over a key corridor of Syrian territory linking the capital Damascus with the homelands of President Assad's minority Alawite sect in mountains close to the Mediterranean.
The UN says more than 90,000 people have been killed in Syria - with a further 1.7m forced to seek shelter in neighbouring countries.The UN says more than 90,000 people have been killed in Syria - with a further 1.7m forced to seek shelter in neighbouring countries.