Syria protests erupt after government raises fuel prices by up to 40%

Syria protests spread as fuel prices rise by up to 40 percent Submitted by Reem Aouir on Mon, 09/14/2026 - 12:30 Protesters call for energy minister’s resignation as demonstrations take place across the country Protesters burn tyres and block the road in protest against rising fuel prices on the highway between Aleppo and Turkey, Syria, 13 September 2026 (Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters) Off Protests have erupted across several parts of Syria after the government sharply increased fuel prices, with demonstrators blocking major roads, burning tyres and calling for the energy minister's resignation as anger grows over the rising cost of living. Demonstrations were reported in cities of Idlib, Hama, Raqqa, Deir al-Zor and Hasakah, with protesters preventing oil tankers from passing in some areas. Syria's Permanent Committee for Pricing Petroleum Products and Mineral Resources issued a new temporary price bulletin, with rates taking effect at midnight on Sunday. The new pricing set 95-octane gasoline at 195 Syrian pounds (SYP) per litre (about $1.60), 90-octane gasoline at 185 SYP ($1.52) per litre, a 28 percent increase. Diesel, however, recorded the steepest proportional rise. It climbed from 125 SYP per litre to 175 SYP per litre, a 40 percent increase. Footage showed protesters blocking the M5 international highway between Aleppo and Damascus, burning tyres and calling for the government to reverse the decision. The road was reportedly blocked for several hours. Footage shows protesters blocking the Aleppo–Damascus highway amid demonstrations across Syria over steep fuel price hikes. The government has raised diesel prices by up to 40% and gasoline by up to 28% citing rising global fuel prices and an overhaul of the Baniyas refinery. pic.twitter.com/b9hScrxdp4 — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 14, 2026 Protests were also reported in Khan Sheikhoun and elsewhere in Idlib province. In northeastern Syria, protesters blocked roads in parts of Hasakah and Raqqa countryside, with local reports saying some oil tankers were prevented from passing. In a statement, Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said the increase reflected a combination of international market pressures and domestic supply constraints. According to the ministry, Syria requires around 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products, against domestic production of roughly 100,000 barrels per day. The country therefore relies heavily on imports, with imported fuel accounting for around 60 percent of daily diesel supplies. The government is also facing higher costs on international markets as the war between the US and Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies and shipping routes, especially through Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel in recent days amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, while attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping in the wider region have heightened concerns about fuel availability. The ministry said Syria consumes around 7.72 million litres of diesel a day, of which about 4.63 million litres are imported, and 3.09 million litres are produced domestically. Some of the crude produced in Syria is also too “heavy and is not fully compatible with the capabilities and specifications of existing refineries, limiting the extent to which local crude can replace imported gasoline and diesel”. The ministry added that the increase is temporary and that prices will remain under review as international market conditions change. The ministry noted that ongoing maintenance at the Baniyas refinery, expected to last about two months, has temporarily increased the need for imported fuel. Once completed, the refinery, which is Syria’s largest fuel-processing plant, should raise the country’s refining capacity. The protests prompted the People's Assembly to summon Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir to answer questions over the fuel price increases. The hearing, requested by the head of the People Assembly’s Energy Committee, was approved under Article 30 of Syria’s constitutional declaration and Article 168 of the assembly’s internal regulations. According to the Syrian news outlet al-Ikhbariya, the hearing is scheduled for Thursday at noon at the People's Assembly headquarters. It will seek explanations from the energy ministry over the reasons for the increase and the circumstances and considerations surrounding the decision. Syria after Assad News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Arab Spring 2.0? Fuel Riots Erupt In Syria As Instability Spreads Across Mideast New footage posted on X shows what appear to be protests, with Israeli news organizations saying the anger is erupting because of skyrocketing fuel costs, reminiscent of the Arab Spring food riots 15 years ago. i24NEWS reports that demonstrations have popped up in parts of Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor provinces, with protesters blocking roads and stopping oil tankers as rising energy costs intensify affordability pressures. Videos on X, including one from Middle East Observer, show the chaos unfolding. Protests in Syria following the rise in fuel prices pic.twitter.com/PjOsnIw95s — Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) September 13, 2026 Other footage: 🇸🇾 Protests Escalate in Syria Large crowds have taken to the streets in Maarrat al-Numan, with protesters blocking the Aleppo–Damascus highway as demonstrations over the Al-Sharaa government’s latest fuel-price increases grow increasingly confrontational. Diesel prices jumped… https://t.co/9lkTD7Yfh3 pic.twitter.com/5YzAhxCVBx — DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 13, 2026 🇸🇾 Fuel protests spread to Hama Protests have erupted again in Hama, where demonstrators are blocking roads around Orontes Square (Sahat al-Asi) and burning tires in response to soaring fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/7ouwK1h91J — DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 13, 2026 The unrest underscores just how quickly higher fuel costs can ignite public anger and fuel social unrest. i24NEWS added more color to the situation: According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior fired live ammunition while attempting to disperse the demonstrators. Tensions remained high as security personnel sought to reopen the roads and remove protesters from the area. A separate report from Times of Israel states: Protests have broken out in different parts of Syria over increased fuel prices, with demonstrators blocking a main highway in Idlib province for several hours. The government announced what it said were temporary price increases for gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products earlier today, citing rising global fuel prices as a result of the US-Iran war. The price of gasoline increased by about 30% and diesel by 40%. Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said yesterday that Syria is producing about 102,000 barrels of oil per day, while it needs about 325,000 barrels per day for domestic consumption and is relying on imports to make up the difference. Renewed instability in Syria could widen the fallout from the US-Iran conflict, creating new openings for armed groups, straining regional security, and placing pressure on President Ahmad al-Sharaa's US-aligned government. Tyler Durden Sun, 09/13/2026 - 20:00