Over 200 reportedly killed by Assad's forces in 'worst Syrian massacre' till date

London, July 13 (ANI): Helicopter gunships and tanks of the Syrian government are believed to have killed as many as 200 villagers in the country's Hama province, making it the 'worst massacre' that has gripped the country, since the uprisings began more than a year ago to oust President Basshar al-Assad.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Syrian troops along with the pro-government Shabbiha militia shelled the village of Treimsa, killing several people while more were shot later in the head execution-style.

Assad's army also reportedly destroyed a village school while the number of children killed are yet unknown.

"The village school was totally destroyed," The Telegraph quoted a Hama-based activist, Abu Ghazi, as saying.

According to the report, bodies of over 30 civilians have been identified but the names of more than 100 still remain unknown.

The state-run SANA news service confirmed a massacre hit the town of Treimsa but gave no indication of the number of civilians killed.

"There were heavy losses among the ranks of the terrorists," said the report, adding that three soldiers were killed.

The incident comes after a high-profile defection by Syria's former ambassador to Iraq who urged soldiers in Assad's army to turn their weapons on the regime and "join the ranks of the revolution". (ANI)