The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss a new draft resolution that threatens future sanctions if Syrian security forces do not halt military operations against civilians.

Diplomats say they hope to bring the resolution to a vote by the end of the week.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal unveiled the draft late Tuesday. It backs off a previous proposal that demanded immediate sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The new draft resolution is aimed at breaking a deadlock in the U.N. Security Council. Some council members want to put more pressure on Mr. Assad to curb the violence.

Syrian troops backed by tanks and helicopters killed at least eight people Tuesday in raids apparently seeking to crush army deserters who are fighting back after months of mostly peaceful protests against the president.

Rights groups say at least six people were killed during government raids in the central city of Homs, and two more in northwestern Idlib province.

Activists say dozens of armored vehicles entered the central town of Rastan early Tuesday and army troops stormed hospital emergency rooms looking for wounded rebel soldiers. Dozens of people were reported taken from their homes.

The defectors, estimated to number in the thousands across the country, are part of the newly formed Free Syrian Army. The dissident soldiers are led by Colonel Riad al-Asaad, who defected from the air force in July.

President Assad has repeatedly sent out troops to quell anti-government protests. The United Nations says the crackdown has killed at least 2,700 people since mass protests started in March. Syria says the death toll is lower and includes members of the security forces.

Human Rights Watch has urged the U.N. Security Council to take action to stop what it calls Syria's “merciless campaign” of killings, torture and arbitrary detention.