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Syrian forces pound rebel-held areas of Homs | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Syrian forces have launched a major offensive against rebel-held parts of the city of Homs. | |
Aircraft, tanks and mortar units attacked several areas, activists say. Unverified footage showed clouds of smoke from explosions across the city. | |
Syrian state TV said the army had achieved a "great success" in Homs after "killing many terrorists". | |
The attack follows gains in Homs province by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad in recent weeks. | |
They captured the strategically important town of Qusair, between Homs and the Lebanese border, in early June. | |
Rebel stronghold | |
Rebels say communication lines in Homs were cut on Saturday morning, before the bombardment began. | |
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. |
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. | |
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. | |
Elsewhere in Syria rebels have claimed some victories, reportedly making gains in fighting in the southern city of Deraa in recent days. | |
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. | |
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. |
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