Syrian Cities Erupt in Protests Following Sharp Government Fuel Price Increases

Protests have erupted across several cities in Syria after the government sharply increased fuel prices, leading demonstrators to block a main highway for several hours. On Sunday, the government raised prices by up to 40 percent on diesel and 28 percent on petrol. Officials described these adjustments as temporary increases driven by a sharp rise in the global cost of securing fuel.

The Syrian government also pointed to an overhaul of the critical Baniyas refinery as a factor for the higher prices, stating that the upgrade will eventually raise processing capacity from 80,000 to 130,000 barrels per day. Protests were subsequently reported in Hama, Khan Sheikhoun, and Maarat al-Numan, with footage published by Al Jazeera showing crowds gathering on the streets and burning tyres on the highway between Aleppo and Turkiye. These price increases also sparked fierce debate on social media.

Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir stated on Saturday that the country currently produces about 102,000 barrels of oil per day, while domestic consumption requires roughly 325,000 barrels per day, forcing the nation to rely on imports to cover the shortfall. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Ministry of Energy announced it will continue to review prices in response to changing global market conditions and will work over the long term to expand refining and storage capacity. Securing adequate fuel supplies remains critical for Syria's economic recovery as the nation attempts to rebuild after 14 years of war.