"An explosive device laid by an armed terrorist group on a railway line between Mahmabil and Bishmarun stations in Idlib derailed a train loaded with fuel, setting it ablaze," state news agency SANA said.

The sabotaged train was carrying 1,000 tons of fuel used for power generation.

Separately, another "armed terrorist group" sabotaged a 400-watt power distribution plant linking a power station in the eastern region of Deir Ezzor to Hassakeh in northeast Syria, SANA said.

Attacks on power stations and gas pipelines, together with an oil embargo imposed by the European Union in September, have caused severe electricity and fuel shortages in Syria at a time of severe winter weather.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in a regime crackdown on 10 months of dissent in Syria, the United Nations estimates, with the government accusing foreign parties and terrorist groups of working to undermine stability.