Activists reported over 300 were killed execution style, including women and children. (FreedomHouse/Flickr)

Reuters reported claims made by activists who said around 320 bodies, including women and children, were found in houses and basements, killed "execution-style" during a series of raids. Although the activists uploaded videos showing rows of bloodied bodies, Syria's media restrictions on non-state outlets prevented Reuters from independently verifying such claims.

The small Damascus suburb previously held the rebel army, as well as a food warehouse. According to the NY Times, Syrian troops blamed the entire community for supporting the opposition. In response to the attacks, the Syrian government issued a statement:

”Our heroic armed forces cleansed Daraya from remnants of armed terrorist groups who committed crimes against the sons of the town and scared them and sabotaged and destroyed public and private property.”

As fighting in Syria continues to heat up, the Times reported the next challenge will be to determine what really happened in Daraya. Since U.N. observers vacated the country in May without plans to return and journalists appeared to have not yet reached the area, there are limited resources to confirm the events. However, the counterinsurgency style of fighting appears to fit a pattern of government raids carried out in several other Damascus suburbs over the past week.

Read the full story at Reuters and the New York Times.

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage on Syria.

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