Witnesses: Military operation in Syria

(CNN) — A major military operation was underway Monday in the southern Syrian city of Daraa, witnesses said.

As the witness spoke, the sound of gunfire could be heard in the background, along with people screaming, “Allahu Akbar” — meaning “God is great.”

“There are around 3,000 soldiers in Daraa now. They are breaking into people’s houses, firing randomly at houses,” the witness said. “We were sleeping and not protesting.”

Another witness described an onslaught of tanks infiltrating the city.

“Before dawn prayers, around 4:30 a.m., the Syrian security forces broke into Daraa,” the witness said. “There were so many tanks that entered the city from its four corners. People were heading to mosques when the attack started. People in mosques started warning the people through loud speakers, but the gunfire had already started.”

The witness added that ambulances were not allowed into the city and that electricity and phone lines were down.

CNN was unable to independently verify the accounts.

Anti-government protests that have taken hold in many parts of Syria began in Daraa last month after a violent crackdown by security forces on peaceful demonstrators protesting the arrests of youths who scribbled anti-government graffiti.

A Syrian opposition activist in Washington said he has also heard reports of a major operation in Daraa.

“Army with tanks are entering Daraa right now from Dahia bridge. Very heavy firing, no electricity and no mobile coverage,” he wrote in a note to CNN.