Syrian Forces Kill 30 across Country, Including 17 in Deir Ezzor

Security forces killed at least 30 civilians on Tuesday in Syria, among them 17 in the eastern protest hub of Deir Ezzor, activists said.

"At least 15 people were killed in different parts of Deir Ezzor which has been raided by tanks and vehicles mounted with machine guns," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, quoting activists at the scene.

"A woman and a young man shot (earlier in the day) died of their wounds," the Britain-based Observatory said in a statement.

A human rights lawyer also spoke of two deaths in the central flashpoint city of Hama, adding that some 50 tanks were deployed in the Hilfaya and Tibet al-Imam districts.

The Observatory reported two people killed and several wounded in the northwestern Idlib province bordering Turkey, while "a dozen tanks and other armored vehicles attacked the Binnish and Sarmin areas."

A 35-year-old man "tortured" by authorities also died of his injuries on Tuesday, relatives said.

State-run SANA news agency reported that funeral ceremonies were held Tuesday in the Homs military hospital for three members of the security forces killed by "terrorist" groups in the central city and in protest hub Hama.

On Monday SANA, quoting a military source, said troops had left Hama "after completing a mission of protecting civilians and tracking down the armed terrorist groups which had been wreaking havoc" in the city.

The regime's repression of Syria's pro-democracy uprising has left more than 2,050 people dead, including almost 400 members of the security forces, the Syrian Observatory says.