Fuel Price Hikes Spark Widespread Protests Across Syria

Syria has experienced its most widespread demonstrations since the fall of Bashar al-Assad after the government sharply increased fuel prices over the weekend. Protests erupted across at least eight provinces, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Daraa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hassakah. Demonstrators burned tires and blocked major roads, including the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo and the route between Hassakah and Deir ez-Zor, which prevented oil tanker trucks from passing. In Rif Dimashq, minibus drivers staged a strike that caused significant traffic congestion.

The Ministry of Energy announced the new pricing on Saturday, effective Sunday. Diesel prices rose by 40 percent to 175 Syrian pounds per liter. Gasoline prices also increased, with 95-octane gasoline rising 28 percent to 195 pounds and 90-octane gasoline rising to 185 pounds. Additionally, household and industrial gas prices increased by approximately 9 percent. Some protesters demanded the dismissal of the energy and economy ministers as well as the head of the Syrian Petroleum Company.

Government spokesperson Abdulhamid Salat stated that the increases are temporary and linked to global market rates. The ministry attributed the hikes to higher global procurement costs and a reduction in domestic refining capacity because the Baniyas refinery, the country's largest, has been offline since July for maintenance. Syria currently produces about 100,000 barrels of petroleum products per day against a demand of roughly 300,000 barrels. The country relies heavily on imports, including Russian crude, which has faced pressure due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

Economic pressure on the population is severe, with the United Nations Development Programme estimating that 90 percent of Syrians live below the poverty line. Protesters expressed concerns that the fuel hikes would further increase the cost of living and the price of basic goods like vegetables.