ALEPPO: A sharp increase in fuel prices has sparked widespread protests across Syria, marking some of the country’s largest demonstrations since the fall of Bashar al-Assad nearly two years ago.
Protesters burned tyres and blocked major roads, including the highway connecting Damascus and Aleppo, after the government raised diesel prices by 40% to 175 Syrian pounds ($1.32) per litre.
The latest increase has added to the economic pressure facing Syrians, with the UN estimating that around 90% of the population now lives below the poverty line.
The government also increased household and industrial gas prices by around 9%, while 95-octane gasoline rose by 28% and 90-octane gasoline by 26%.
Protesters blocked crude oil tanker convoys heading towards refineries in central Syria, with some calling for the dismissal of the country’s energy and economy ministers, as well as the head of the Syrian Petroleum Company.
“We don’t want higher wages. All we want is lower diesel and other fuel prices,” Yasser Salim told Reuters in Aleppo.
Another protester, Bassam al-Ali, appealed directly to President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“Border crossings bring in millions of dollars. We don’t want new roundabouts or malls. We just want to live,” he said.
Russian fuel supplies under pressure
The Energy Ministry said the price increases were a temporary measure driven by higher global procurement costs and Syria’s heavy reliance on imported fuel.
Syria has depended heavily on Russian crude imports, but supplies have come under pressure amid Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and Moscow’s restrictions on gasoline and diesel exports.
The situation has been further affected by the three-month closure of Syria’s largest refinery in Baniyas for major maintenance.
Since February, 95-octane gasoline prices have risen by around 86%, while diesel prices have more than doubled.
Taxi driver Imad Abu Ras said the rising fuel costs were already affecting daily life.
“Now vegetables and everything else will go up with fuel prices. What is the solution? Steal? We can’t steal”.