Damascus Left Without Power After Gas Pipeline Explosion – Police Source

Source in Damascus police said that the Syrian capital was left without electricity after militants blew up a gas pipeline south of the city.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) – The Syrian capital was left without electricity after militants blew up a gas pipeline south of the city, a source in Damascus police has told Sputnik.

"The sabotage occurred on the pipeline feeding the Tishreen thermal power plant, which serves the southern provinces – Al-Suwayda, Quneitra, Daraa, as well as Damascus and its suburbs," the source said.

According to Syria's state news agency SANA, the country's Minister of Electricity Imad Khamis has confirmed that a gas pipeline explosion had taken place. Khamis added that repair teams have been sent to the site.

The Tishreen power plant is located close to the Damascus International Airport. Military action in Damascus suburbs intensified last week after Syrian government forces started an offensive in the region, taking control of some strategic areas south-west of the Syrian capital.

The Syrian army has been fighting against several opposition and rebel groups, including Islamic State (ISIL) extremists and the al-Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra).

The ongoing civil war in the country, which started in 2011, has claimed nearly 200,000 lives, according to UN estimates.