Syrian activists say there has been an explosion on an oil pipeline near the restive central city of Homs on Thursday, December 8.

According to AP, no casualties were immediately reported in the blast.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the pipeline was "bombed." The state-run news agency says it was an attack and blamed "an armed terrorist group."

The reports could not be independently confirmed.

Syria is trying to crush a 9-month-old uprising, but the conflict is turning more violent as once-peaceful protesters take up arms.