Sabotage halts Syria gas pipeline in latest attack on energy sector

An apparent explosion on an eastern gas pipeline in Syria halted gas flow to power stations in the latest act of sabotage against the Mediterranean country’s energy facilities, authorities said Tuesday.

“A fire broke out Monday evening in a gas pipeline between the Al-Shoula area and Deir ez-Zor due to the explosion of a sectional valve caused by sabotage,” the official SANA news agency reported.

Quoting an official at the Syrian Petroleum Company, SANA added that “the fire halted gas flow from the Al-Jabsah plant to power stations”.

It remains unclear who was behind the sabotage at this time.

Eastern Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, home to the country’s main oil and gas fields, has seen persistent attacks since the so-called Islamic State terrorist group’s defeat in 2019.

IS group remnants regularly target energy infrastructure in the region in asymmetrical attacks meant to subvert Damascus’ push to fully secure its energy logistics.

A gas pipeline at the same facility was struck in what Syrian authorities also described as deliberate sabotage on 18 August.

Read more: Euronews