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Syria Bus Attack Kills 7 as Pipeline Blast Halts Power Plants — AI-generated representative image. A damaged civilian bus on a bridge in Homs, Syria, where gunmen attacked a bus carrying employees, killing at least seven peo

Editorial Team

Deadly Homs bus shooting and Damascus gas pipeline explosion deepen Syria's security and energy crisis

Gunmen opened fire on a civilian bus in western Syria on Wednesday, killing at least seven people, hours after an explosion and fire at a gas pipeline near Damascus forced three power plants offline, according to state media.

The Sana news agency reported that "unknown assailants" attacked the bus as it crossed the Masyaf bridge in Homs, killing and wounding a number of people. Security forces have opened an investigation into the shooting.

The twin incidents highlight the deepening security and energy challenges facing Syria's authorities since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government at the end of 2024. Damascus and its outskirts have been hit by a series of attacks during that period, while repeated pipeline disruptions are straining the country's fragile electricity supply.

The bus attack targeted workers returning home and comes amid mounting public frustration over rising fuel and energy costs across the country.

Deadly Attack and Pipeline Explosion

Brigadier General Bassem Muhammad Shaaban, the Homs internal security chief, said the targeted vehicle was a civilian bus carrying employees of a company home from work. He offered his "deepest condolences" to the victims' families and promised accountability.

"We view this cowardly attack as an attempt to undermine the security and stability of the province of Homs," he was quoted as saying. "This crime will not go unpunished. Internal security will continue to pursue the perpetrators until they are arrested and brought before the judiciary to receive their due punishment."

Shortly before the bus shooting, state media reported an explosion at a gas pipeline in eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, close to one of the country's main power plants. The Syrian Electricity Company said the Deir Ali, al-Nasiriyah and Tishreen power plants were out of service because of inadequate gas supplies following the explosion. A fire also broke out at the Tishreen power plant.

Security and Energy Crisis Since 2024

The violence underscored the security challenges confronting Syria's authorities since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government at the end of 2024. Damascus and its outskirts have been hit by a number of attacks during that time.

Wednesday's blast was the third to hit Syria's gas network in six weeks. The Syrian Petroleum Company said the two earlier incidents were sabotage, and the latest explosion came two days after another pipeline was sabotaged in eastern Syria. No one has claimed responsibility for any of the explosions.

Syrians have complained about rising energy costs in recent months, with protests breaking out across the country two weeks ago after the government increased diesel prices by as much as 40 percent and petrol prices by 28 percent. The government said the increases were temporary and caused by a sharp rise in global energy costs.

Official Statements and Investigation

Mohammed al-Bashir, the energy minister, said at the site late on Wednesday that the fire was now under control and that civil defence crews were conducting cooling operations.

"The cause of the Tishreen power station explosion is still unclear," he told state media. "It could be a technical malfunction, an attack or an act of sabotage. Specialised teams will inspect the site after cooling to determine the exact cause."

Al-Bashir said the Tishreen power plant would need repairs and maintenance once the damage was assessed. Gas pressure would be raised gradually to restart the Deir Ali plant after work at Tishreen was completed, he said. The Syrian Electricity Company warned that the shutdown of the three power plants would increase power rationing hours due to dwindling electricity supplies.

What Happens Next

Security forces have opened an investigation into the bus attack, and Homs authorities have vowed to pursue the perpetrators until they are arrested and brought before the judiciary. The cause of the Tishreen power plant explosion remains under investigation, with specialised teams set to inspect the site once cooling operations are complete.

The energy ministry has not yet confirmed a timeline for restoring full power generation, and no group has claimed responsibility for the pipeline explosions or the bus shooting.