Nada Bakri's documentation

Forget about politics.  Let us talk journalism.  Look at this passage:  "Syrian security forces killed four soldiers on Monday as they attempted to escape a military camp, and the army tightened its grip on towns across the country to quell dissent against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, activists said."  How could such a detailed story be sourced by "activists said"?  Would the editors of Bakri permit a story against Israeli occupation if it was based on what "activists said"?  I mean, really?