Government shelling has killed more than 20 people in the central Syrian city of Homs.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday the number is expected rise because dozens of people were critically wounded in the shelling of the rebel-held Waer area.

The Observatory said the shelling happened on Saturday. The activist collective, the Local Coordination Committees, published similar information.

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been widening an air assault on rebel-held areas in recent weeks, targeting opposition-held residential areas and killing civilians.

Syrian rebels have also targeted Assad-loyal areas with indiscriminate mortar fire.

On Sunday, Syria’s state media said rebel-fired mortar shells killed two people in the Assad-loyal Zahra area of the city.