Syria Says It Foiled Plot Against Homs Oil Refinery

Syrian security forces said on November 3, 2026, that they had foiled a plot to attack the oil refinery in Homs, a city in central Syria. According to Reuters, the forces said they had arrested members of a cell accused of planning the attack.

Syria's General Intelligence Service, the state intelligence agency, said the arrested people were a cell affiliated with Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group. The agency said the preemptive operation was carried out in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces. Authorities identified two of those arrested by the initials M S and B Sh., and said the operation led to the seizure of explosive devices prepared to carry out the plot.

Syrian authorities described the alleged plot as a "terrorist plot." The Homs refinery is one of Syria's two oil refineries, the other being the Baniyas refinery.

Hezbollah denied the Syrian accusations in a statement. It said it does not have any presence on Syrian territory and is not involved in any activity that undermines Syria's security and stability. Reuters describes Hezbollah as a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran.

In a separate case, the intelligence service said it had arrested two members of a suspected ISIL cell, referring to the Islamic State militant group, in Deir Az Zor governorate in eastern Syria.