Syria's Energy Infrastructure Hit by String of Attacks, Damaging Key Pipelines

Syria's energy infrastructure has been hit by a series of suspected sabotage attacks, with two pipelines carrying gas and oil products sustaining damage in separate incidents. The Syrian Petroleum Company announced the disruptions on Thursday, adding to recent challenges in the nation's energy sector.

In the southern Hasakah province, an explosion struck the Jbessa gas pipeline in the late afternoon. Hours earlier, a pipeline transporting oil products from the coastal city of Baniyas to Homs was damaged, resulting in a fuel leak. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the gas pipeline was targeted in a "sabotage attack," though no specific group or suspect has been named by state media or the company.

Oday al-Satouf, head of the company’s media office, informed SANA that a hole was discovered in the Baniyas-Homs pipeline in the Hadida area, west of Homs. Crews have since isolated the affected section, secured the area, and closed the valves. Repairs have commenced, with monitoring teams in place for safety. The leak is believed to be connected to an attempted fuel theft, according to state media. Al-Satouf assured that domestic gas supplies remain unaffected and that gas will continue to reach power stations via alternative arrangements.

This latest damage follows a pattern of incidents targeting Syria's oil and gas network. More than a week prior, an oil pipeline near Tal Hamis in northeastern Hasakah province was damaged in a sabotage attack, with authorities reportedly arresting those responsible. In late September, a fire on a gas pipeline between al-Shoula and Deir Az Zor halted gas flows from the Jbessa plant to power stations. Hisham al-Saleh, a gas sector official, noted a drop in gas pressure in the area as crews worked to extinguish the fire.

Syria has been actively working to restore its energy infrastructure and boost domestic oil production, including resuming operations at oil fields in Hasakah to supply refineries in Homs and Baniyas. The petroleum company had previously announced plans in January to transport crude from recently recovered fields to these refineries as part of its efforts to revive the sector.