Syrian forces backed by tanks stormed two main neighbourhoods in Homs overnight, human rights campaigners said on Sunday, in the first incursion into residential areas in Syria's third city.

The forces entered the Bab Sebaa and Bab Amro neighbourhoods at 2 a.m. (2300 GMT). The sound of machine guns and shelling was heard across the city, two rights campaigners, one of whom lives in Homs, told Reuters.

At least eight tanks and hundreds of soldiers were deployed in the city of one million on Friday.

Reuters