Syrian forces have raided a north-western village as the government continues its crackdown on dissent. Activists said there were reports of machine gun fire on Thursday after armored vehicles and jeeps stormed into the town of Ibleen. The French news agency AFP quotes activists who say forces killed three military defectors during a raid on a house.The military operation took place the same day Russia announced plans to mediate talks that could allow President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power, in spite of massive anti-government protests in Syria. Russian envoy Mikhail Margelov said Thursday that he will meet with Syrian opposition figures in Moscow on Friday and with an aide to Assad on Monday.On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe met with his Russian counterpart and urged Russia to take a stronger stance against Syria. He accused Damascus of committing “crimes against humanity.” The United Nations estimates 2,200 people have been killed since March after Assad launched the crackdown on dissent. On Wednesday, activists said Syrian security forces killed at least 20 people during raids against anti-government protesters, mostly in the central Homs region.