Syrians took to the streets in several parts of the country on Monday for the second consecutive day, protesting the government’s decision to raise fuel prices amid soaring costs linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The demonstrations marked the first major protests of their kind since Islamist authorities took control of Syria after the ouster of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Under Assad’s government, public demonstrations were heavily restricted.
In Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern Idlib province, protesters briefly blocked a major road by setting tyres ablaze. Demonstrators called on the authorities to reverse the fuel price increases, citing the hardship facing low-income households as winter approaches.
A 67-year-old taxi driver, Fateh Hamsho, said the higher fuel costs would place additional pressure on struggling Syrians, particularly during the colder months.
Similar demonstrations were reported in Hasakeh in northeastern Syria, as well as Atarib and Azaz in the north and Khan Shaykhun in the west.
The protests followed the government’s announcement on Sunday of higher fuel prices as international energy costs continue to rise amid the escalating Middle East war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February and subsequently spread to other parts of the region.
The conflict has also disrupted energy supplies after attacks damaged oil infrastructure in parts of the Gulf and affected major waterways used for fuel transportation.
Under the latest adjustment, the price of diesel increased by 40 per cent, rising from 125 Syrian pounds to 175 pounds per litre, while petrol prices went up by 26 per cent.
The price increase comes as Syria continues to face severe economic hardship. The United Nations estimates that about 90 per cent of the country’s population was living below the poverty line by the end of 2024.
The country’s parliament is expected to question Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir on Thursday over the decision and its implications for citizens.
Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid Salat, head of the Energy Ministry’s media department, described the increase as temporary, attributing it to developments in global energy markets and the conflict involving Iran.
Salat explained that Syria depends substantially on imported fuel because domestic oil production remains far below the country’s needs. Syria currently produces approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, compared with an estimated domestic demand of between 300,000 and 325,000 barrels daily.
