Syrian rights activists said the army attacked a central town and parts of an eastern city, killing at least 30 people. According to them, forces entered Deir el-Zour in the east early Sunday, killing at least 20 people. Blasts were heard in several parts of the city.
There are also reports of deaths in Houleh town, which is located in Homs province.
The raids come as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government has reached "the end of our patience" with Syria. He said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Syria Tuesday to deliver that message in a firm manner. Ankara had close ties with Damascus in the years before the revolt began.
On her part, Syrian presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban has said in a strongly worded statement that Davutoğlu will hear more decisive reply if he delivers a firm message to Syria. "If Davutoğlu is to deliver a firm message to Syria, he will hear more decisive reply regarding the Turkish stance which didn’t condemn the brutal killing and crimes committed by the armed terrorist groups against the civilians, military and police members until now,” Shaaban was quoted by the Syrian state-run Sana news agency as saying on Sunday.
