星期一，叙利亚军队和坦克开进政府抗议集中的德拉市，据报导至少18人死亡，引来国际批评。叙利亚南部的目击者和人权活动人士披露了伤亡人数。与此同时，叙利亚当局正在扩大镇压已经持续了5周的反政府起义。
目击者说，他们看到在德拉的一辆车里有被安全部队袭击致死的尸体。人权组织分发的视频画面显示，城里有坦克和数十名士兵。人权组织也报告说，在首都大马士革郊区的杜马也有安全部队开枪。
联合国人权事务高级专员皮莱要求叙利亚遏制军事镇压，调查抗议者被打死的事件。美国谴责这起针对叙利亚民众的暴力事件，称其“令人十分震惊”。
美国国家安全委员会的一名女发言人说，美国正在考虑针对这次残酷镇压作出一系列回应，包括定向制裁，以明确显示叙利亚的行为是“不可接受的”。
At least 18 people are reported dead as Syrian troops and tanks rolled into the protest flashpoint town of Daraa on Monday, drawing international criticism. Witnesses and human rights activists in southern Syria reported the casualties as Syrian authorities widen their crackdown on a 5-week anti-government uprising.
The witnesses said they saw bodies in a car that had been attacked by security forces in Daraa. Video footage distributed by human rights groups shows tanks in the city along with dozens of soldiers. Rights groups also reported gunfire from security forces in Douma, a suburb of the capital, Damascus.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay demanded that Syria curtail its military crackdown and investigate the killings of protesters.The U.S. condemned the violence against Syrian citizens, calling it "completely deplorable."
A National Security Council spokesman says the U.S. is considering a range of responses to the brutal crackdown, including targeted sanctions, to make clear that Syria's behavior is "unacceptable."
