On Friday 6 May 2011, during the 2011 Syrian uprising or civil war, Syrian government armed forces with tanks and troops started an attack on and occupation of Homs, Syria's third largest city[1] with 650,000 inhabitants. Until 12 May they reportedly killed 37 residents and cut off water and medical care, held house-to-house raids to arrest hundreds of residents and shelled the town. On 13, 20, 21, 27 and 29 May, again 21 protesters reportedly were killed by security forces. At least 13 soldiers or policemen were killed in May by terrorist groups, the government reported.