Rights activists say Syrian troops backed by tanks have swept into Banias, a hub of anti-regime protests, as residents formed human chains in a bid to halt the military operation.
Tanks have also reportedly encircled the nearby town of Baida while an an army boat is patrolling offshore.
The military sweep comes two days after a convoy of 40 military vehicles pulled out of the southern town of Daraa, which the military had locked down since April 25.
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Human rights groups say that more than 600 people have been killed and eight-thousand jailed or gone missing in the crackdown on protesters since demonstrations erupted in mid-March.
Yesterday, Syrian security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters as thousands rallied on a Day of Defiance" against the Syrian regime, a rights group said, and authorities accused "terrorists" of killing 10 soldiers and policemen.
The violence came as the European Union agreed to impose sanctions on 13 Syrian officials involved in the regime's brutal crackdown on protests and will meet Monday to discuss whether to target Syrian President Bashar Assad as well, diplomats said.
The Syrian rights group, Insan, put the day's toll at 26 killed but said it expected this to rise.
The US has warned it would take additional steps against Syria if it continues its brutal crackdown of protesters, a week after imposing tough sanctions on the Arab nation.
