Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Syrian rebels have destroyed an oil refinery.

State television said a rebel force attacked and shelled the refinery in
Homs on Feb. 8. The report said two fuel storage tanks were bombed and set
on fire.

Syria’s energy sector has become a leading target of the rebel movement,
based in neighboring Turkey. Over the last month, the rebels have bombed a
natural gas pipeline in the Homs province at least twice.

The European Union and the United States have targeted Syria’s energy
sector for sanctions.

Diplomats said the sanctions, meant to deprive the
regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad with hard currency, have halted EU
purchases of Syrian gas or oil. Syria was reported to have been producing
385,000 barrels per day throughout most of 2011.

  Bashar Assad, EU sanctions, Homs, natural gas pipeline, Opposition forces blow up Syrian oil refinery, Syrian rebels