At least 117 people were killed on Wednesday in the Syrian city of Homs in the bombardment that has continued there since February 4, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday, citing the Syrian opposition.
The opposition told Al Arabiya that at least 40 armored vehicles and 50 infantry fighting vehicles accompanied by 1,000 troops were deployed in Homs from the Lebanese border.
Witnesses said that blasts in Homs could be heard almost every minute. Armored vehicles of President Bashar al-Assad’s army have also been spotted on the outskirts of the city.
Earlier reports said that over 200 people had been killed in Homs on Saturday. The government forces used tanks, artillery and mortars.
United Nations and the Arab league will send a joint observer mission to Syria, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday.
Ban sharply criticized Russia and China for blocking on Saturday a draft UN resolution that backed an Arab League peace plan to resolve the crisis.
The failure to agree on collective action against al-Assad’s regime “has encouraged the Syrian Government to step up its war on its own people,” he said.
At least 5,400 people have been killed in the government's 10-month crackdown on protesters, according to the UN. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs affiliated with al-Qaeda and say more than 2,000 soldiers and police have been killed.
