Fuel price hikes in Syria have led to widespread protests across the country, marking the largest demonstrations since President Bashar al-Assad's rule began two years ago. Diesel prices were increased by 40% on Saturday, reaching 175 Syrian pounds ($1.32) per liter, causing citizens to block major roads and demand lower fuel costs despite government claims that price increases are due to global procurement costs and import dependence. The United Nations Development Programme reports that 90% of Syrians now live below the poverty line, up from about a third before the civil war began in 2011.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
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Story summary
Syria experienced widespread protests on September 14 after the government raised diesel prices by 40% to 175 Syrian pounds ($1.32) per liter. Demonstrators burned tires, blocked key roads including those linking Damascus and Aleppo, and halted convoys of crude tankers heading to refineries in central Syria. The price hikes also affected household and industrial gas prices by about 9%, 95-octane gasoline by 28% to 195 pounds, and 90-octane gasoline by 26% to 185 pounds.
These protests are the most extensive since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad almost two years ago. The increased fuel costs exacerbate Syria's ongoing economic crisis, with nearly 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line according to a UN Development Programme report. This economic hardship is driven by years of civil war and rising global procurement costs that strain Syria’s heavy reliance on imports for its energy needs.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 8840 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-14
Syria fuel price hikes trigger widest protests since Assad fall
ALEPPO, Syria, Sept 14 -
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hikes → trigger → fall
A sharp rise in fuel prices at the weekend has sparked protests across Syria, in the country's most widespread demonstrations since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad almost two years ago.
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rise → spark → Assad
Demonstrators burned tyres and blocked key roads, including the highway linking the capital Damascus to the industrial hub of Aleppo, after Syria's government on Saturday raised diesel prices by 40% to 175 Syrian pounds ($1.32) a litre.
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government → burn → pounds
The price increases piled further pressure on Syrians facing years of economic crisis.
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increases → pile → crisis
The United Nations Development Programme estimates 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line, compared with about a third before the Syrian civil war began in 2011.
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war → estimate → 2011
In the steepest of several price hikes announced since the Iran war began, the government also raised household and industrial gas prices by about 9%, 95-octane gasoline by 28% to 195 pounds and 90-octane gasoline by 26% to 185 pounds.
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government → announce → pounds
Protesters also blocked convoys of crude tankers travelling towards refineries in central Syria, with some demanding the dismissal of the energy and economy ministers and the head of the Syrian Petroleum Company.
"
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some → block → Company
We don't want higher wages.
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We → want → wages
All we want is lower diesel and other fuel prices," Yasser Salim told Reuters in Aleppo.
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Salim → want → Aleppo
Bassam al-Ali, also protesting in Aleppo, appealed directly to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying the situation was untenable.
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situation → protest → Sharaa
"Border crossings bring in millions of dollars.
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crossings → bring → dollars
We don't want new roundabouts or malls.
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We → want → roundabouts
We just want to live," he said.
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he → want → ?
RUSSIAN SUPPLY UNDER PRESSURE
Energy Ministry spokesperson Abdulhamid Salat said on Sunday that the price increases were a temporary measure driven by higher global procurement costs and Syria's heavy dependence on imports, and could be revised up or down as conditions changed.
uncertain
conditions → say → imports
Syria has relied heavily on Russian crude, importing around 60,000 bpd this year, although Damascus has told Washington it is willing to sharply reduce those purchases.
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it → rely → purchases
That supply has come under growing pressure as Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have reduced production, prompting Moscow to restrict exports of gasoline and diesel.
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attacks → come → gasoline
Prices reflected not only crude costs but shortages of refined products and higher refining, transport and supply costs, Salat said in a statement.
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Salat → reflect → statement
The supply crunch has been compounded by the three-month closure of Syria's Baniyas refinery, the country's largest, for its first comprehensive maintenance operation.
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crunch → compound → operation
The increase means 95-octane gasoline has risen about 86% since February, while diesel has more than doubled.
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diesel → mean → February
Benchmark Brent crude rose about 44%, from $72.48 to $104.61 a barrel.
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crude → rise → 104.61
Imad Abu Ras, a 44-year-old taxi driver, said passengers had already begun objecting to higher fares, adding: "Now vegetables and everything else will go up with fuel prices.
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vegetables → say → prices
We can't steal".
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We → steal → ?
