The wreckage of a car is seen in Haffeh Thursday. (REUTERS)
AL HAFFE, Syria — United Nations observers on Thursday visited the Syrian town of al Haffe and reported finding it all but deserted with a strong stench of dead bodies and most state buildings burned to the ground.
“Most government institutions, including the post office, were set on fire from inside,” the UN Supervisory Mission in Syria said in a statement.
“Archives were burnt, stores were looted and set on fire, residential homes appeared rummaged and the doors were open.”
It added that “a strong stench of dead bodies was in the air and there appeared to be pockets in the town were fighting is still ongoing.”
The number of casualties was still unclear, it said.
The observers had been trying since June 7 to reach the mainly Sunni Muslim town in northwest Latakia province to check on reports of a possible massacre there by regime forces.
Rebels seeking the ouster of President Bashar al Assad withdrew from the town on Thursday, allowing regime troops to enter it and take control.
The eight-member UN team that visited the town on Thursday reported that the ruling Baath party headquarters was shelled and appeared to be the site of heavy fighting.
“Remnant of heavy weapons and a range of caliber arms were found in the town,” the observers’ statement added. “Cars, both civilian and security, were also set on fire and damaged.”
The rebels said they had decided to withdraw from the besieged town to spare the lives of civilians.
Activists said regime forces and pro-regime militiamen known as shabiha raided the area after the rebels withdrew.