DAMASCUS, Syria, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A "terrorist" attack Monday struck a natural gas pipeline running from the restive Syrian city of Homs, Syrian state media reported.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency reported that an "armed terrorist group" attacked a natural gas pipeline running from Homs to the western coastal city of Banyas. No injuries were reported.
In early January, unnamed sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said insurgents used an explosive charge to damage a 24-inch pipeline near Homs. Electric power stations in the region were out of service and the flow of natural gas was halted.
SANA reported that attack caused a loss of about 4 megawatts per hour of electricity. Monday's attack marks the fifth such incident since the uprising against the government began, which SANA said resulted in a loss of around 800 MW of electric power.
Energy companies in Syria in December declared force majeure, meaning they can't carry out contractual obligations because of circumstances beyond their control.
The United Nations estimates at least 5,000 people have been killed in violence the Syrian government blames on insurgents backed by foreign elements.
