Syrian forces seize explosives in plot to strike Homs refinery

Syrian security forces announced they intercepted two individuals carrying explosive devices intended for the Homs oil refinery, one of only two such facilities in the country. The General Intelligence Service stated that the preemptive operation was conducted alongside Internal Security Forces. Authorities identified the two detainees by their initials, M S and B Sh, and noted that the seized materials were prepared specifically to execute the attack on the refinery.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah denied involvement in a statement issued in response to the arrests. The group reiterated that it maintains no presence on Syrian territory and is not engaged in activities that undermine the nation's stability. Relations between Damascus and the Lebanese armed group have deteriorated since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, despite their alliance during the nearly 14-year civil war. Syrian officials have previously accused Hezbollah of involvement in planned assassinations, rocket strikes, and arms smuggling.

The Homs refinery plays a central role in securing the country's supply of petroleum products. It operates alongside the Baniyas refinery. Recent disruptions have affected Syria's energy infrastructure. On October 15, the Syrian Petroleum Company reported that a pipeline transporting fuel from Baniyas to Homs was damaged near the village of Hadida, causing a leak. This incident followed an explosion on a gas line in the Damascus countryside on September 30, which cut off supply to the Deir Ali, Nasiriya, and Tishreen power stations.

In a separate operation on Sunday, the General Intelligence Service arrested two members of a suspected ISIL cell in Deir Az Zor. Investigations indicated the detainees were involved in a series of assassinations in the province. The most recent targeted Ibrahim al-Jassem, a member of the defense ministry, who was shot near the al-Rashid mosque in Mayadin. Security forces seized weapons and ammunition from the group's hideout and continue to investigate their links to other attacks.

The arrests in Deir Az Zor follow a pattern of security actions across the country. On September 27, authorities detained four members of an ISIL cell planning attacks in various regions. Last month, state television reported that forces foiled a plot against a police patrol in the Damascus countryside. That group was linked to explosions and killings in Raqqa, Aleppo, Idlib, and Homs. Syria joined the US-led international coalition against ISIL last November, a group formed in 2014 to conduct operations in Syria and Iraq.