Syrian state media announced Sunday the start of large-scale military drills along the country's coast, as more civilians reportedly died in clashes between government and rebel forces.
State television reported that the military is practicing how it would repel an attack by sea. Meanwhile, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the French news agency, AFP, that violence across the country killed at least 35 people, including 17 civilians.
Sunday's announcements come a day after Lebanese officials said a Syrian rocket hit the northern part of their country, killing three people. Also, on Friday, Turkey buried the two pilots killed when Syria shot down a Turkish military jet last month.
On Saturday, U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan acknowledged that the international community's attempts to find a political solution to the escalating violence in Syria have failed.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.