Plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the skyline while not too distant gunfire kept locals confined to their homes. This video posted an social media website cannot be independently verified by Reuters. Protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in several cities on Friday.
Earlier in the week --- Syrian TV reported that two Russian warship arrived in the country. On Friday, separate reports of a Russian operated cargo vessel that had delivered ammunition to Syria.
Moves that Washington fears will only fuel the unrest which has consumed the country for months.
U.S. State department spokesman Victoria Nuland.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. State department spokesman Victoria Nuland. saying:
"We have raised our concerns about this both with Russia and with Cyprus, which was the last port of call for the ship, and we are continuing to seek clarification as to what went down here."
Russia has long been a major arms supplier to Syria -- with Moscow being a key holdout in the international outcry against the Assad regime.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
