Smoke rises from two fuel depots at an oil refinery in Syria. (file photo)<\/p>\n
One of Syria™s two main oil refineries has been set on fire after being shelled by foreign-backed militants fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.\n<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the militants bombed the refinery in the central city of Homs, which reportedly left no casualties.\n<\/p>\n
According to reports, the refinery was working only at 10 percent of its capacity when it came under attack.\n<\/p>\n
The Homs refinery had a capacity of 5.7 million tons per year before the crisis began in the country.\n<\/p>\n
The other main plant, located in Banias near the Mediterranean coast, is still working at 80 percent of its capacity.\n<\/p>\n
Syria™s oil industry has been massively hit since the unrest began in the country in 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.\n<\/p>\n
The United Nations said on Monday that more than four million more Syrians will be forced out of their homes in 2014 by the escalating conflict in the country.\n<\/p>\n
Two million Syrians are expected to take refuge outside the country while another 2.25 million others are predicted to be internally displaced in the next year.\n<\/p>\n
NT\/MHB
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