Massive Explosion In Syria: Terrorism?

Syria says pipeline blast was terrorist attack, US suspects IS

By REUTERS 

The Syrian government said an explosion on a main gas pipeline traversing the Middle East on Monday was the result of a terrorist attack, and the United States said it suspected Islamic State militants of carrying out the sabotage.

The blast caused a blackout across Syria, but power was gradually being restored, officials said.

It took place on the Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra, northwest of the capital Damascus.

"Assessments show that the explosion...was the result of a terrorist attack," Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem said, quoted by state news agency SANA. He did not provide further detail.

In Geneva, the U.S. envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, said there had been an upsurge in Islamic State activity in the southeast of the Syrian desert. Islamic State lost its last territory in Syria in March 2019 but pockets of fighters remain.

"We are still looking into (the explosion). But it was almost certainly a strike by ISIS," Jeffrey told reporters at the start of U.N.-sponsored talks on the Syria conflict.

The Arab Gas Pipeline system extends from Egypt into Jordan and Syria. Syrian state-run Ikhbariya TV channel showed footage of a large fire after the explosion. The channel said later the blaze had been extinguished.

Breaking — Massive explosion in Syria…

Posted by Kane 

Syria state-run news agency says there is a ‘total blackout‘ in Syria after a gas pipeline explosion. Syria’s oil minister states that the explosion may be terror related.

Breaking: Syria state-run news agency says there is a ‘total blackout‘ in Syria after a gas pipeline explosion. Syria’s oil minister states that the explosion may be terror related.

Arab gas pipeline explosion caused Syria blackout – state media

Bethan McKernan 

A huge explosion has struck a major natural gas pipeline near Damascus causing a near-nationwide blackout, Syrian state media has said, quoting the country’s electricity and oil ministers.

The Sana news agency and Ikhbariya TV channel showed footage of a huge fire after the blast between the towns of Al-Dhumayr and Adra in the early hours of Monday, which oil minister Ali Ghanem said “may have been caused by a terrorist act”.

No deaths or injuries were reported and firefighters extinguished the blaze as power was gradually restored to the south of the country on Monday morning. The minister provided no further details on the possible attack.

The 1,200 kilometre (745 mile) Arab Gas Pipeline, which carries natural gas from Egypt into Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, supplies three power stations in Syria’s south.