Two Syrian pipelines damaged amid spate of attacks on energy infrastructure

Two pipelines carrying gas and oil products were damaged in separate incidents in Syria, state media documented, the latest disruptions to the country's energy infrastructure after a series of suspected sabotage attacks.

Key points

• The state-owned Syrian Petroleum Firm unveiled the damage on Thursday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
• Oday al-Satouf, head of the company's media office, informed SANA that a hole was identified in the Baniyas-Homs pipeline in the Hadida area, west of Homs.
• More than a week ago, the firm stated an oil pipeline near Tal Hamis in the northeastern province of Hasakah was damaged in a sabotage attack.
• Hisham al-Saleh, a gas sector official at the firm, stated gas pressure in the area fell as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
• The firm stated the gas pipeline had been targeted in a "sabotage attack", according to SANA.

Meanwhile, the state-owned Syrian Petroleum Firm unveiled the damage on Thursday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). As the administration tries to revive its energy sector, the incidents add to a number of attacks on Syria's oil and gas network in recent months.

Meanwhile, an explosion struck the Jbessa gas pipeline in southern Hasakah province in the late afternoon, hours after damage to a pipeline transporting oil products from the coastal city of Baniyas to Homs caused a fuel leak.

For context, the firm stated the gas pipeline had been targeted in a "sabotage attack", according to SANA.

Neither SANA nor the firm named a suspect or group responsible for the attacks.

Oday al-Satouf, head of the company's media office, informed SANA that a hole was identified in the Baniyas-Homs pipeline in the Hadida area, west of Homs. Crews isolated the affected stretch and secured the surrounding area, he remarked, closing valves on either side of the damaged section. While other teams monitor the area for safety, repairs have begun. State media remarked the leak was believed to be linked to an attempted fuel theft.

Al-Satouf remarked gas would continue to reach power stations through alternative arrangements, and that domestic gas supplies were unaffected, according to SANA. A string of incidents.

More than a week ago, the firm stated an oil pipeline near Tal Hamis in the northeastern province of Hasakah was damaged in a sabotage attack. It continued that authorities had arrested those responsible.

In late September, a fire broke out on a gas pipeline between al-Shoula and Deir Az Zor in the east, halting gas flows from the Jbessa plant to power stations, SANA documented. Hisham al-Saleh, a gas sector official at the firm, stated gas pressure in the area fell as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

Syria has been working to restore its energy infrastructure and growth domestic oil production. That includes resuming operations at oil fields in Hasakah to supply refineries in Homs and Baniyas. In January, the petroleum firm unveiled intends to transport crude from lately recovered fields to the two refineries as part of efforts to revive the sector.

For now, two Syrian pipelines damaged amid spate of attacks on energy infrastructure remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.