Syrian Rebel Homes Targeted

A government attack on a village in Syria which left hundreds dead was targeting the homes of rebels, the United Nations (UN) has said.
Syrian Rebel Homes Targeted
7/15/2012
Updated:
7/16/2012

A government attack on a village in Syria, which left hundreds dead was targeting the homes of rebels, the United Nations (U.N.) has said.

On Saturday observers from the U.N. entered the village of Tremseh, two days after Syrian security forces launched a wide offensive.

The number of dead is unclear. Some activists put the figure at around 200 people, and have claimed it to be the worst massacre since protests erupted in the country in March 2011.

In a statement Saturday, the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria said that the violence was not indiscriminate.

“The attack on Tremseh appeared targeted at specific groups and houses, mainly of army defectors and activists,” the statement said.

According to the statement there were bullet casings and pools of blood in rooms of several homes.

“The U.N. Team also observed a burned school and damaged houses with signs of internal burning in five of them.

“A wide range of weapons were used, including artillery, mortars and small arms.”

The statement added that observers were expected to enter the village again on Sunday in order to ascertain the exact number of casualties.

The incident on Thursday caused widespread condemnation from world leaders. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was “indisputable evidence” that Syria had “deliberately murdered civilians.”