Two Syrian pipelines damaged amid attacks on energy infrastructure

Two pipelines carrying gas and oil products were damaged in separate incidents in Syria, according to state media. The state-owned Syrian Petroleum Company reported the damage on Thursday, marking the latest disruptions to the country’s energy infrastructure amid a series of suspected sabotage attacks. An explosion occurred on the Jbessa gas pipeline in southern Hasakah province in the late afternoon, following damage to a pipeline transporting oil products from the coastal city of Baniyas to Homs, which caused a fuel leak. The company indicated that the gas pipeline had been targeted in a "sabotage attack." Neither the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) nor the company identified a suspect or group responsible for the attacks. Oday al-Satouf, head of the company’s media office, stated that a hole was found in the Baniyas-Homs pipeline in the Hadida area, west of Homs. Crews isolated the affected section and secured the surrounding area by closing valves on either side of the damage. Repairs have begun, and other teams are monitoring the area for safety. State media suggested that the leak was linked to an attempted fuel theft. Al-Satouf also noted that gas would continue to reach power stations through alternative arrangements and that domestic gas supplies remained unaffected. More than a week prior, the company reported that an oil pipeline near Tal Hamis in the northeastern province of Hasakah was damaged in a sabotage attack, with authorities subsequently arresting those responsible. In late September, a fire occurred on a gas pipeline between al-Shoula and Deir Az Zor, interrupting gas flows from the Jbessa plant to power stations. Hisham al-Saleh, a gas sector official, indicated that gas pressure in the area decreased as crews worked to extinguish the blaze. Syria is actively working to restore its energy infrastructure and increase domestic oil production, including resuming operations at oil fields in Hasakah to supply refineries in Homs and Baniyas. In January, the petroleum company announced plans to transport crude from recently recovered fields to the two refineries as part of efforts to revive the sector.