Syrian authorities announced the arrest of two individuals allegedly linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah on suspicion of plotting an attack on the Homs oil refinery in central Syria. The General Intelligence Directorate, working with security authorities, claimed to have foiled the plot and seized explosives intended for the operation. The suspects were identified only by their initials, M.S. and B.Sh. Hezbollah categorically denied the allegations, stating it had no organizational or operational presence in Syria and was not engaged in activities threatening Syria's security.
The Syrian announcement came just one day after a Lebanese ministerial delegation visited Damascus to discuss Syrian refugees, security coordination, and bilateral relations. Hezbollah's media relations office issued a statement denying any involvement, maintaining that the group operates in accordance with Iranian interests but has no direct role in the alleged plot.
Lebanese cleric Sheikh Issa Khair al-Din suggested that potential threats to Syria's oil infrastructure should be viewed within the broader context of regional tensions involving Iran. He argued that Iran seeks to exert pressure on global energy supplies to demonstrate the potential economic consequences of a military confrontation. Khair al-Din connected this strategy to the importance of oil transportation routes through Syria, suggesting that attacks on the Homs refinery could serve Tehran's interests.
The Homs refinery is economically significant as one of Syria's main facilities for producing petroleum products. While Syrian authorities maintain that they thwarted an attack against a vital energy facility, Hezbollah continues to deny any connection to the alleged plot. The dispute raises questions about how the accusations could affect security cooperation between Damascus and Beirut.