Syria: Government forces attack village of al-Baida near Baniyas killing between 50 and 100 people
Government forces and militia members loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have stormed the coastal village of al-Baida, killing between 50 and 100 people including women and children, Syrian opposition activists say.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Thursday that the death toll would increase and could reach more than 100, with many of those killed appearing to have been “summarily executed” by shooting or stabbing.
There were reports that the raid came in response to rebels attacking a busload of pro-Assad fighters, known as shabiha, earlier in the day, killing at least six and wounding up to 20 more.
Due to reporting restrictions in Syria, Al Jazeera cannot independently verify reports of violence.
Syria’s official SANA news agency said troops killed “terrorists”, the regime term for the rebel fighters, and seized arms.