Syria says it foiled plot against Homs refinery; Hezbollah denies link

Syrian authorities said on Tuesday, November 3, that they had prevented an attack on the Homs oil refinery in central Syria and arrested members of a cell they linked to Hezbollah. The group denied any involvement.

Syria's Internal Security Forces said explosives intended for use against the refinery had been seized during the operation, according to reports by The National and Al-Monitor. The announcement described a disrupted plot rather than an attack that had been carried out.

Syrian intelligence coordinated with the Internal Security Forces in the operation, Al-Monitor and SANA reported, citing the security forces' account. Authorities attributed the alleged cell's links to Hezbollah, but Hezbollah rejected that allegation and said it had no presence on Syrian territory.

Accounts differed on the number detained. The National reported two arrests, while Al-Monitor described several. SANA said cell members had been arrested without specifying a total, leaving the overall number unclear.

Al-Monitor also reported that security forces released photographs of two arrested suspects, along with images of weapons and equipment they said had been seized. The number of suspects pictured does not establish how many people were detained in the operation.

The National said the two suspects it reported as arrested had not been named and that their nationalities had not been disclosed.