Syrian forces arrest two men in failed Homs refinery attack

Syrian security forces arrested two men on Tuesday after stopping a planned attack on the Homs refinery. Domestic intelligence officials said the pair belonged to a cell linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah. The group intended to use explosives to damage the industrial site in central Syria. Officials confirmed the plot was foiled before it could be executed.

Authorities stated that the operation was part of a wider effort to protect national infrastructure. Security forces seized the materials the cell had gathered for the strike. No specific details were released about the type of explosives taken from the suspects. Officials also withheld the identities of the two arrested men.

The Homs facility holds a critical position in the Syrian economy. It is currently the only operational refinery in the country. The conflict that ended in late 2024 left the nation's energy sector in tatters. A second refinery in the coastal town of Banias is currently closed for maintenance. This closure places the full weight of the country's fuel processing on the Homs plant.

This incident follows a string of unexplained strikes on energy infrastructure. In early October, Damascus reported sabotage attacks on an oil pipeline. Shortly after, a gas pipeline was targeted in a similar incident. The Syrian news agency SANA reported on the foiled refinery plot on Sunday, just before the official announcement on Tuesday. These events show a pattern of pressure on the sector since the end of the civil war.

Damascus has a history of accusing Hezbollah of plotting inside Syria. The Iranian-backed group has previously denied such claims. Hezbollah fought alongside former President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. That alliance created a lasting tension with the new leadership in Damascus. The group remains a powerful political and military force in Lebanon.

Diplomatic talks between the two sides continue despite the security friction. President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem have both suggested they might meet. Such a conference would mark a new phase in relations between the new Syrian government and the Lebanese militia. The potential meeting is seen as a way to address ongoing disagreements.

Security forces are continuing to investigate the arrested cell members. The investigation aims to determine the full scope of the group's activities in Syria. The seizure of the plot represents a win for domestic intelligence agencies. It demonstrates an effort to identify and stop covert operations targeting key assets.

The government has not announced a schedule for the next phase of its security operations. The focus remains on the stability of the energy sector. With the Banias refinery still under maintenance, the Homs plant must remain functional. The arrests and seizures stand as the immediate outcome of the security action taken this week.