Syrian government forces launched an on the rebel stronghold of Al-Rastan in the central province of Homs, activists said, adding that 16 people were killed in violence across Syria, dpa reported.
"We are unable to reach anyone in Al-Rastan due to the intensity of the shelling and the clashes. All we know is the rebels are now carrying out fierce battles at the entrance of the city," Syrian activist Omar Homsi, who is based in Homs, told dpa.
"It seems that the regime forces want to storm the area.It will be over our dead bodies," Homsi added.
The offensive came a day after UN observers visited the area.
Activists also reported deaths in the southern province of Daraa, Homs and the capital Damascus, where at least three people were killed in a bomb blast, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Wednesday that 13 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims abducted by "a splinter group of the armed Syrian opposition" had been found and would be released soon.
The rebel Free Syrian Army has strongly denied involvement in the abduction.
Russia accused Syria's opposition of undermining the UN peace plan by continuing violent attacks.
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