BEIRUT (AP) — More tanks and troops rolled into southern villages Tuesday near the heart of Syria’s anti-government uprising, with activists saying the regime has isolated parts of the country. A human rights group reported that more than 750 people have been killed in a crackdown on seven weeks of unrest.
The military has been sealing off various areas of Syria and conducting house-to-house raids in search for people whose names are on wanted lists, with many fleeing cities and towns for fear of detention by the regime of President Bashar Assad, activists say.
Intense military operations have taken place in the Damascus suburb of Maadamiyeh, which has been sealed off for days, said human rights activist Mustafa Osso. He said communications have been cut and checkpoints were preventing anyone from entering or leaving the area.
“Maadamiyeh is isolated from the rest of the world,” Osso said.
The army also was conducting operations in the coastal city of Banias, the central city of Homs and the northern city of Deir el-Zor, Osso said.
