Three people killed in Banash-Idlib

Syrian troops killed three armed dissidents in clashes that erupted during a raid in the northwestern town of Banash, in Idlib province, on Thursday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"The Syrian army backed by tanks and armored troop carriers launched an assault this morning on the town of Banash and clashes took places with armed men who were apparently dissidents," activist groups told the reporters.

"Several houses were partly destroyed and people were wounded while the noise of heavy machine guns and explosions could be heard in several parts of the town and ambulances seen racing through the streets.

"Three men were killed this morning in Banash town during the military operations," the observatory said, adding that the army had also launched an attack on Taum village, east of that town."

The Observatory said the military and security forces had set up many checkpoints in the town and arrested 19 people. On Wednesday, thousands of Syrians who back the president rallied in the center of the capital, Damascus, to show support for the regime which has faced nearly seven months of popular protests and demands for Assad to quit.

Syrian authorities blame gangs of armed terrorists for the unrest.