Syriaupdated 46m ago3 min read
Archive photoSyrian Authorities Thwart Terrorist Plot Targeting Homs Refinery, General Intelligence Says
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Syrian authorities thwarted a terrorist plot targeting the Homs refinery. Authorities dismantled an ISIS-linked assassination cell in Deir Ez-Zor.
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Homs refinery plot foiled
Syrian authorities announced the thwarting of a terrorist plot targeting the Homs refinery in central Syria, and they said the General Intelligence Directorate provided the information to SANA without further details. SANA reported that the Homs refinery, alongside the Baniyas refinery, plays a major role in securing petroleum derivatives for the domestic market. The reports also tied the announcement to a broader pattern of attacks on energy infrastructure, including an October 15 sabotage act that targeted the oil derivatives transport pipeline running from Banias to Homs near the village of Hadida in the western countryside of Homs.
“Correction.. a source in the General Intelligence for SANA: thwarting a terrorist plot to target the Homs refinery.”
The TRT عربي report added that SANA corrected its earlier framing, stating that the terrorist plot targeted the tank refinery in Homs rather than Banias, and it quoted SANA’s correction: "Correction.. a source in the General Intelligence for SANA: thwarting a terrorist plot to target the Homs refinery." The ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English report described the Homs refinery’s production setup, saying it comprises four production units based on atmospheric distillation, alongside a naphtha upgrading project to produce high-octane gasoline that meets domestic market needs.
ISIS-linked cell in Deir ez-Zor
Syrian authorities also announced the arrest of an ISIS-affiliated cell in Deir ez-Zor governorate, and they said the cell consisted of two people after precise intelligence surveillance. Internal Security Forces stated that investigations showed the detainees’ involvement in carrying out a series of assassinations in the province, and the latest operation targeted a Defense Ministry officer, Ibrahim Al-Jasim, with a gunshot near the Al-Rasheed Mosque in Al-Mayyadin city. The Al-Jazira Net report said the operation resulted in the seizure of weapons and ammunition found inside the cell’s hideout, and it added that relevant authorities continued investigations to uncover connections for presentation to justice.
The الراي report similarly described the arrest in Deir ez-Zor, and it said Internal Security Forces reported that investigations showed the detainees were involved in assassination operations, with the latest targeting Ibrahim al-Jasim with a live bullet near al-Rasheed Mosque in al-Mayyadin city. The جريدة الدستور report said the competent authorities continued questioning the detainees to reveal their connections and the parties behind their activities, in preparation for referring them to the judiciary.
Energy security and investigations
The Al Arab Weekly framed the thwarted Homs refinery plot as part of security operations affecting Syria’s energy network, and it said the facility’s position extends beyond refining because it sits within the broader system that supports petroleum product receiving, processing and storage. The same report said Damascus is beginning to reclaim transporting Iraqi petroleum products towards the Mediterranean, and it described the corridor as a link for reconnecting Iraq with Mediterranean markets through Syrian territory. The Arab Weekly also cited the scale of logistics around the route, saying reports indicated that between 1,000 and 1,200 trucks a day crossed the border during some phases of these operations.
In parallel, the Al-Jazira Net report said the General Intelligence Directorate, in cooperation with internal security forces, thwarted on the 16th of last month a plot to target a police patrol in the Rif Dimashq governorate, with an ISIS-linked cell preparing to execute it. The شفق نيوز report described the Homs refinery plot as an effort to undermine Syria’s economic security and disrupt residents’ daily lives, while it said the group’s identity and details of the planned attack were not disclosed.