6 Feb 2012

Syrian army mounts Homs bombardment

Syrian troops are carrying out a bombardment of Homs, in the west of the country. Channel 4 News speaks to a journalist in Homs who says Syrians are desperate for the UN to enforce a no-fly zone.

Warning: the film report above contains some very distressing images

There are major restrictions on journalists operating in Syria so it is difficult to verify claims from either side in the conflict.

At least 50 people were killed and an estimated 150 injured overnight in the most recent wave of attacks, said activists and residents.

One activist said the attacks in the last few hours were the “most violent bombardment” in recent days.

Catherine al-Talli from the Syrian National Council opposition group said: “The tally that we have received from various activists in Homs since the shelling started at six this morning is 50, mostly civilians.

“The regime is acting as if it were immune to international intervention and has a free hand to use violence against the people.”

The head of the Arab League has warned that Syria is tipping into civil war.

The regime is acting as if it has a free hand to use violence against the people. Catherine al-Talli, Syrian National Council opposition group

Today’s attacks come hours after the United States promised harsher sanctions against Damascus in response to Russia’s and China’s veto of the United Nations Security Council resolution condemning President Bashar al-Assad.

There have also been reports of forces loyal to President Assad using multiple rocket launchers in the attack.

Arab satellite television stations broadcast live footage from Homs in Syria, showing smoke rising from buildings and explosions going off regularly.

‘Rockets are falling seconds apart’

The latest assault was launched around 2am on Monday morning (midnight GMT). It appeared to target a wider area of the city, with explosions in Khalidiya, Baba Amro, Bayada and Bab Dreib neighbourhoods, activists said.

One Homs resident told news agencies that the attack is an attempt to drive out the Free Syrian Army – the rebel force of army deserters and gunmen which has controlled parts of Homs for months.

“Rockets are falling seconds apart on the same target,” said Hussein Nader, a Baba Amro resident.

Syrian troops have been attacking the city since Friday night. An estimated 200 people died on Friday night when tanks and artillery blasted the Khalidiya neighbourhood of Homs.

Read more from Channel 4 News: Inside Syria

Hague calls on Arab League to act

Meanwhile Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday said that Russia and China bore some responsibility for any future deaths, after they refused to back a UN resolution condemning President Assad.

With Syria’s death toll rising, Mr Hague came under pressure from Labour MPs to set out the UK’s strategy on Syria and explain future steps.

But Mr Hague said the best way forward was for the Arab nations to push ahead with their efforts to force a peaceful resolution – without UN permission.

He called on the Arab League to “intensify their own pressure on the Assad regime to stop the killing and allow a peaceful transition”.

Moscow fiercely defended its decision to veto the resolution, saying it would send a delegation to Damascus on Tuesday led by its foreign minister.