Syrian army deploys in restive oil hub

One of the largest protests against the regime in Hama Damascus - Agencies  An army raid in Hama in central Syria Sunday morning left 100 people shot dead and several wounded in critical condition, according to activist reports in France Press. Head of the Syrian Human Rights Watch, Rami Abdelrahman, pointed out that “the army and security forces opened fire on civilians who stood near borders built by families to block the forces out.” Families reported tens of people wounded as they were directly attacked by tanks in Hama Sunday morning in attempt to put a stop to protests calling for democracy.
Hama has been invaded after a month of being surrounded. A witness reported that 5 tanks separated from the Army in an attempt to protect civilians in Hama. A civilian doctor in Hama said that 51 injured people are currently in Bader Hospital, which is experiencing a shortage in blood units, adding that tanks surrounded Al Horani Hospital in another part in Hama.  
As guns fired in the background, another witness reported that “earlier today tanks attacked Hama from 4 different directions while opening fire using their heavy machine guns in all directions and raided temporary borders on roads which were put up by civilians.”  
In Al-Bukamal city on the border of Iraq a witness named Abu Jafaar told Al-Arabiya that “the city has been facing raids since 5AM (local time) on Sunday morning by the Military Intelligence Services in the city, supported by gangs. Additionally several houses were burned by them.”
Conflicting opinions on the Hama attacks
Syrian photographer Mohamed Al Hajj denied entry of tanks into Hama to Al-Arabiya, stating that some cameramen have fabricated their videos by adding audio clips of bombings to their videos.  
Syrian journalist Sherief Shehada of Damascus said, “I sneaked in to Hama a few days ago and found armed gangs terrorising families and kidnapping and murdering some of them.” He reaffirmed that there is no division in the Army.
Syrian human rights activist Ammar Al Qurbi said that “Al Assad’s talks about armed civilian presence and that’s illogical and unacceptable, and the regime wants to squash protests before Ramadan.”
The Hama attacks come at the same time as the beginning of a military security operation in Deir Ezzor, North of Syria, where tanks have invaded the city and opened heavy fire on civilians since early Saturday morning. Additionally, Al-Bukamal city, the second town in Deir Ezzor, witnessed mass arrests by army and security forces. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in the biggest protests against the regime in both Hama and Deir Ezzor in the past few weeks.
Rihawi told the BBC that 6 people were killed in Deir Ezzor, while activists reported a full shut-down in the city of Modamiyeh as electricity and all communications have been cut off. Security forces are reportedly conducting mass arrests which saw more than 150 people detained.  
A picture taken in Al Qurayyah in Deir Ezzor confirmed the dissention between army forces. Colonel Riyad Alasaad who dissented from the army announced that he has a big number of army followers who have clashed with the Army.  
Activists reported that missile attacks took place on the Teb neighbourhood in the Western part of Deir Ezzor at the same time as the army invaded the village of Tibneh and Al Khareeta where communications were completely cut off in many neighbourhoods.  
The Syrian Revolution Coordination Union said that Al-Bukamal city in the far Eastern part of Deir Ezzor near Iraq has heavy military invasion and electricity and water and communication cuts since last Friday. Activists said that the regime sent more security forces to the city after the 30 army dissention as 4 protestors were killed.  
A number of Syrian intellects and Islamists signed a statement defining what they consider to be the basic rules to an urgent political solution in Syria. They also called for the punishment of those who killed protestors and civilians; in addition they rejected sectarianism and called for a civilised dialogue without security force present. They also called for the release of all Syrian arrested politicians without reason.  They also demanded for the deletion of the 8th article in the constitution which states that the Baath party is the one and only leader in Syria, and the 49th Law which states that anyone who is a part of the Muslim Brotherhood should be executed. They also called for free elections and a new constitution separating authorities and stressed the un-necessity for using the army in solving the Syrian crisis.