The United States fears Bashar al-Assad is preparing to carry out a fresh massacre in an opposition stronghold as his regime unleashed helicopter gunships on rebel cities across Syria.

US State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland voiced "deep alarm" for the fate of Haffa, scene of some of the fiercest fighting yet seen in the conflict, amid reports that government tanks and heavy artillery had surrounded the town.

Kofi Annan, author of the now collapsed United Nations-sponsored peace deal, had earlier told how helicopters had strafed rebel positions in Haffa following days of heavy fighting there.

"The United States joins joint special envoy Kofi Annan in expressing deep alarm by reports from inside Syria that the regime may be organising another massacre," Miss Nuland said.

"We remind Syrian commanders of one of the lessons from Bosnia: The international community can and does learn what units were responsible for crimes against humanity and you will be held responsible for your actions."

Syria has already experienced two major massacres recently, with 55 people killed last week in al-Qubeir and at least 108, about half of them children, killed in Houla on May 25.

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