Pipeline attack wipes out power in Syria

Reuters/NY Times:

Much of Syria, including the capital Damascus, was hit by a power cut late on Wednesday after rebels attacked a gas pipeline, state media said.

"A terrorist attack on a gas pipeline that feeds a power station in the south has led to a power outage in the provinces and work to repair it is in progress," Electricity Minister Emad Khamis told state news agency SANA.

A resident in the center of Damascus who asked to remain anonymous said "the whole city just went dark" and she could see the glow of a fire near the international airport and hear heavy machinegun fire.
...

The pipeline was hit by rebel artillery fire.  It is not clear whether the attack that blew up the pipeline was deliberate or part of an offensive against a town near Damascus.  They may have had a bigger impact than anticipated.