Army steps up in Syrian

Army steps up in Syrian  Homs campaign

A focal point for pro-democracy protests, activists and residents said that’s the Syrian army stepped up its military operation in the central city of Homs.

‘There are casualties and many people have been arrested. We are very scared,’ a resident in Homs, who asked to be referred to only by his first name, Ahmed.

‘There is heavy military deployment in Homs; military checkpoints are everywhere in the city. There is heavy shooting in Bab Sbaa, one house was burned and the humanitarian conditions are dire,’ the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement.

It is hard to verify witness accounts as Syrian authorities have expelled most international media organisations.

Syrian authorities blame armed groups with Islamist links for violence across the country and say at least 500 policemen and soldiers have been killed since March.