Up to 50 killed in Homs, dozens of bodies dumped on streets, activists say

Up to 50 people in Homs, Syria were killed in the past 24 hours, a UK-based activist group announced Tusesday.

Dozens of bodies were dumped overnight in the streets of Homs – a city marked with increasing violence, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted witnesses saying.

The report cannot be independently confirmed by foreign journalists, which have been barred from entering the country. A Homs-based activist told the Associated Press there were a number of killings and kidnappings Monday night.

"It was an insane escalation," Saleh told the AP. "There were kidnappings and killings in a mad way. People are afraid to go out of their homes."

During the same day of violence, the Syrian government news agency SANA said the country’s border guards blocked an infiltration attempt of 35 “armed terrorists” aided by the Turkish military, according to news reports. 

The Free Syrian Army rebel group, basedin Turkey, is believed to be smuggling fighters and weapons into Syria to fight President Bashir al-Assad’s regime, Reuters reported. 

Syria has tried to quell protesters who have led a near-nine month government uprising against Assad that has led to more than 4,000 people dead, according to the UN.

While many country have pulled their diplomats working in Syria due to the rising violence, US decided to send ambassador Robert Ford back to the conflict-torn country to witness the latest developments, USA Today reported: 

"He will continue the work he was doing previously," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner. "Namely, delivering the United States' message to the people of Syria, providing reliable reporting on the situation on the ground and engaging with the full spectrum of Syrian society on how to end the bloodshed and achieve a peaceful political transition.