Syrian Free Army kills 27 loyalist soldiers in fresh clashes

Activists say at least 27 Syrian soldiers and security forces have been killed after they came under attack from Syrian army defectors in the southern province of Daraa, where the uprising began against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes erupted at three checkpoints in the southern province. The observatory did not report about possible casualties among the defectors. A video posted on YouTube purportedly showed a group of Syrian army defectors claiming responsibility for the operation.

Meanwhile, activists reported that the government militia ("Chabihah") stormed Hama to end the general strike, but encountered resistance from dissidents from the army. Activists said Syrian troops backed by tanks killed at least ten people when they stormed yesterday the city of Hama. In response, dissidents from the Syrian army attacked a convoy of military jeeps outside of Hama, killing eight soldiers, according to various sources. At least 30 people were killed in other parts of Syria.

According to the activists, yesterday's operation in Hama was the first since a massive military campaign in the city back in August to end the mass protests in the center of the city. Reports on Wednesday said government troops entered the neighborhoods to the north and east of the city and opened fire with machine guns. They looted and burned shops, which were closed as part of the "strike of dignity" declared by the opposition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights conveyed, "The district of Hamidiya in Hama was under heavy machine guns, and clashes between dissidents and the loyalist of the regime were still continuing until late Wednesday."

A statement by the Observatory added that five civilians were shot dead by Syrian security forces in Bab Amr district in Homs, as well as three civilians were killed by security forces in the province of Idlib in the northwest of Syria, near the Turkish border. The statement added that an "Iraqi woman was shot dead by snipers in Zabadani" in the province of Damascus.

Moreover, Human Rights Watch released its 88-page report on Thursday. The report is based on more than 60 interviews with defectors from the Syrian military and intelligence agencies. It identifies 74 commanders and officials behind the alleged abuse.

Earlier this week,the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has asked the UN Security Council to ask the International Criminal Court to focus on the situation in Syria. She said that over 5,000 people have been killed in the uprising against the Syrian regime. Navi Pillay added some 14,000 people have been arrested and 12,400 fled to neighboring countries.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York on Wednesday that "in the name of humanity" it is time for the international community to act. He said the "status quo in Syria cannot go on."