Syrian Protests Erupt in Eight Provinces Over Fuel Price Hikes

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, public demonstrations have erupted in eight Syrian cities and provinces against rising fuel prices, intensifying worries about increased costs for transportation, food, and goods. The protests, which have affected Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Rural Damascus, Daraa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah, saw demonstrators express their anger towards the current administration by holding rallies, burning tires, and blocking main and international routes. Several members of the Syrian Parliament have also jointly signed a request calling for an urgent meeting with Mohammed Al-Bishr, the country’s Minister of Energy. Previously, the Syrian Ministry of Energy attributed the fuel price increase to exceptional global supply costs, coinciding with the temporary shutdown of the Baniyas refinery for maintenance. The Syrian market is currently impacted by rising global costs for gasoline, diesel, and furnace oil, particularly as the Baniyas refinery undergoes a complete two-month repair shutdown, necessitating a temporary increase in refined petroleum product imports.