Syrians Protest Fuel Price Hikes Amid Widespread Poverty and Fragmentation Concerns
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a substantial surge in fuel prices in Syria has triggered the most extensive wave of protests seen in the country since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime nearly two years ago. Demonstrators have responded by setting tires ablaze and blocking major roads, including the highway connecting the capital, Damascus, to the industrial hub of Aleppo.
These protests commenced after the “Julani regime” raised the price of diesel by 40%, bringing it to 175 Syrian Pounds per liter, equivalent to $1.32. Reports indicate that public unrest against the fuel price hike has spread across eight cities and provinces, intensifying concerns about rising transportation costs, food prices, and general commodities. Protesters in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Rural Damascus, Daraa, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah have voiced their anger towards the “Julani regime’s” policies through demonstrations, burning vehicle tires, and obstructing main and international routes.
In response to the escalating situation, several Syrian parliamentary representatives have co-signed a petition calling for an urgent meeting with Mohammed al-Bishir, the country’s Minister of Energy.
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Ninety percent of the Syrian population is reportedly living below the poverty line, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assessments. This figure starkly contrasts with the pre-2011 Syrian civil war period, when approximately one-third of the population was in poverty. The recent fuel price hike is not an isolated incident; the ruling administration also increased the prices of domestic and industrial gas by approximately 9%. The price of 95-octane gasoline rose by 28% to 195 Syrian Pounds, and 90-octane gasoline increased by 26% to 185 Syrian Pounds.
One demonstrator, Bassam Al-Ali, addressed the “Julani regime,” stating, “The conditions are no longer bearable. We do not want new fields or commercial centers. We just want to live.”
Political writer and researcher Yasser Al-Najjar emphasized that there is no justification for the price increases. He argued that even if global market prices had risen, the “Julani regime” should have prepared the public for such an increase through a more thorough review process.
Economic affairs expert Ziad Arabsh commented that raising fuel prices in line with global trends was not the only available option for the regime, but it was the technically and operationally simplest. He noted that with winter approaching and schools reopening, Syrian families are ill-equipped to cope with the compounded inflationary pressures.
Mudar Al-Dubs, a political affairs researcher, stated that the public protests in response to fuel price hikes were not surprising, suggesting they were inevitable. He highlighted that public trust in the “Julani regime” has been eroding since its inception, largely due to its political performance. Al-Dubs added that while Syria has experienced similar fuel price increases in the past without street protests, the current situation reflects a culmination of accumulated grievances and pressures, sending a clear message to the ruling administration that public confidence is diminishing, and relying solely on the concept of victory is no longer sufficient to sway Syrian public opinion.
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The article states that Israeli attacks against Syria have not only continued but have significantly intensified since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, with even facilities affiliated with the “Julani regime” being targeted. It alleges that Israeli soldiers, under the “Julani regime’s” silence, are not only conducting daily raids in southern Syria and searching civilian homes but also abducting residents on various pretexts. The text claims that Israeli forces are advancing in southern Syria, establishing new checkpoints and expanding their occupation.
The article further suggests that the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in the Jabal al-Sheikh highlands signifies developments beyond military incursions, pointing to broader political implications for the future of southern Syria and Israel’s desired relationship with Damascus. It asserts that Israel aims to expand its influence in post-Bashar al-Assad Syria, solidifying it as a political and security reality that would be difficult to reverse. Netanyahu’s statements about Israeli forces not withdrawing from their positions are interpreted as an attempt to establish a new basis for occupation, with direct messages from Israeli officials to the “Julani regime” from locations near Damascus indicating Tel Aviv’s intention to expand occupied territories.
The article highlights the increased presence of foreign military forces in Syria since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, including Turkey, Israel, Russia, and the United States. This foreign intervention is characterized as a precursor to Syria’s fragmentation based on de facto realities, with external actors disrupting the country’s stability to advance their interests or send messages to other parties, thereby asserting their influence in the Middle East.
Turkey, it is stated, would benefit from acquiring a geographical area in Syria, directly or indirectly, to maintain its influence and expand its role. The article describes a close rivalry between Israel and Turkey in Syria, with Tel Aviv reportedly setting boundaries for Turkish presence in northern Syria and preventing any southward movement towards Damascus and its southern regions. Israel considers any Turkish military presence on Syrian soil and any efforts by Damascus and Ankara to rebuild and equip the army as red lines.
Concerns about Syria’s potential fragmentation are deemed serious, given the country’s size and the evident impact of the conflict not only in terms of human casualties and destruction but also political losses and the division of influence. The article points out that the “Julani regime” has failed to regain control of all Syrian territories since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime. Consequently, the country is now under the control of multiple groups and factions, lacking central sovereignty, which is pushing Syria towards de facto partition. Elements affiliated with the “Julani regime,” Kurdish forces, Turkish forces, and some Druze elements in southern Syria are noted as controlling various parts of the country.
