Fuel prices in Syria increased by 25% to 40%, leading to protests in six provinces where demonstrators blocked roads and oil tanker routes on consecutive days. Over 50 members of the People's Assembly signed a request demanding that Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir appear before parliament for questioning regarding the price hikes, with the hearing scheduled for Thursday at noon local time. The price increases have affected various fuels, including petrol and diesel, as well as household gas cylinders, exacerbating economic difficulties in a country still recovering from years of civil war.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Syria experienced widespread protests over fuel price hikes announced on September 14, marking the largest demonstrations since Bashar al-Assad's fall almost two years ago. The government raised diesel prices by 40%, increasing them from 125 to 175 Syrian pounds per liter ($1.32 USD). Similar increases were applied to other fuels and household gas, with gasoline rising between 25-28%. Protesters blocked major roads, including the highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo, and demanded the dismissal of energy officials.
The protests spread across multiple provinces, including Idlib, Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa, as more than 50 members of Syria's parliament called for a hearing with the Energy Minister. The government justified these measures by citing higher global procurement costs and heavy reliance on imports due to years of economic crisis following the civil war.
With nearly 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, the price hikes have exacerbated existing hardships, fueling public anger despite the government's claim that they are temporary adjustments necessary for long-term recovery.
Written for “Syria Fuel Price Protests” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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The government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has increased the minimum wage by 550% in March, as part of a broader recovery plan for the Middle Eastern country whose years-long civil war devastated most of its economy and resulted in the deaths of more than 580,000 people, with another 13.5 million displaced.
left Highlights government efforts to address economic hardship
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Fuel prices rose by 25% to 40% after Syria's standing committee for the pricing of petroleum products issued a new temporary price list that took effect at midnight on Sunday.
right Reports price increases without framing them negatively
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The average net monthly salary in Syria varies widely by sector and can amount to just €50 to €60, according to publicly available figures.
left Emphasizes the low income levels of Syrians
Leaning score -0.30 for article 8944 (medium confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-14
Demonstrators blocked oil tanker routes and roads in six provinces on the second consecutive day of unrest over a 25-40% fuel price rise, as more than 50 MPs signed a demand to question the energy minister.
asserted
MPs → block → minister
Protests against fuel price increases spread across Syria for a second consecutive day on Monday, with demonstrators blocking roads and oil tanker routes in several provinces and calling for the dismissal of Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir, as parliament summoned him to appear before a hearing on Thursday.
asserted
parliament → spread → Thursday
More than 50 members of Syria's People's Assembly signed a request on Sunday demanding the energy committee question al-Bashir over the price hikes and their impact on living conditions.
asserted
committee → sign → conditions
The assembly confirmed on Monday that the hearing had been set for Thursday at noon local time (11 am CEST).
asserted
hearing → confirm → noon
Fuel prices rose by 25% to 40% after Syria's standing committee for the pricing of petroleum products issued a new temporary price list that took effect at midnight on Sunday.
asserted
that → rise → Sunday
The price of a litre of 95-octane petrol rose from 152 to 195 new Syrian pounds, 90-octane from 147 to 185 pounds, and diesel from 125 to 175 pounds — an increase of 40%.
asserted
price → rise → %
A household gas cylinder rose from 1,470 to 1,600 pounds.
100 Syrian pounds is about 1 eurocent, but the average net monthly salary in Syria varies widely by sector and can amount to just €50 to €60, according to publicly available figures.
uncertain
salary → rise → figures
The government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has increased the minimum wage by 550% in March, as part of a broader recovery plan for the Middle Eastern country whose years-long civil war devastated most of its economy and resulted in the deaths of more than 580,000 people, with another 13.5 million displaced.
asserted
million → increase → people
Protests were reported in Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Aleppo, Idlib and Daraa.
asserted
Protests → report → Hasakah
In Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor, demonstrators blocked roads used by crude oil tankers and cut the al-Suway'iya bridge crossing between Syria and Iraq near al-Bukamal.
asserted
demonstrators → block → Bukamal
In the city of al-Shahil, residents blocked the road leading to the al-Omar oilfield, preventing tankers from passing.
asserted
residents → block → tankers
In Raqqa, truck and haulage drivers staged a sit-in outside a grain storage centre, with the road to the silos remaining blocked on Monday.
asserted
road → stag → Monday
In Idlib province, protesters blocked the M5 motorway near Maaret al-Numan, while video circulating online showed a night-time demonstration in the city of Idlib with crowds demanding al-Bashir's removal.
asserted
video → block → removal
Local sources reported that a young man in Hasakah province attempted to set himself on fire in protest at the price increases and worsening living conditions before bystanders intervened.
asserted
bystanders → report → increases
Video of a separate incident showed another man threatening to burn his car.
asserted
man → show → car
Euronews could not independently confirm these reports.
uncertain
Euronews → confirm → reports
Al-Bashir said on Saturday the price rise was needed to bridge a gap between the cost of importing petroleum products and their domestic selling prices.
asserted
rise → say → products
Syria produces approximately 102,000 barrels of oil per day against domestic demand of around 325,000 barrels, leaving it heavily dependent on imports, he said.
asserted
he → produce → imports
Major maintenance work at the Baniyas refinery in the southern Tartus governorate has further reduced domestic refining capacity, requiring additional imports of finished petroleum products.
asserted
work → reduce → products
The ministry said it would review prices as global market conditions change and the refinery returns to full capacity.
asserted
refinery → say → capacity
Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel in recent days amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz linked to the Iran war and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
asserted
prices → rise → Arabia
