Syria protests spread as fuel prices rise by up to 40 percent

Submitted by Reem Aouir on Mon, 09/14/2026 - 12:30 Protesters call for energy minister’s resignation as demonstrations take place across the country

Protesters burn tyres and block the road in protest against rising fuel prices on the highway between Aleppo and Turkey, Syria, 13 September 2026 (Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters) Off

Protests have erupted across several parts of Syria after the government sharply increased fuel prices, with demonstrators blocking major roads, burning tyres and calling for the energy minister's resignation as anger grows over the rising cost of living.

Demonstrations were reported in cities of Idlib, Hama, Raqqa, Deir al-Zor and Hasakah, with protesters preventing oil tankers from passing in some areas.

Syria's Permanent Committee for Pricing Petroleum Products and Mineral Resources issued a new temporary price bulletin, with rates taking effect at midnight on Sunday.

The new pricing set 95-octane gasoline at 195 Syrian pounds (SYP) per litre (about $1.60), 90-octane gasoline at 185 SYP ($1.52) per litre, a 28 percent increase.

Diesel, however, recorded the steepest proportional rise. It climbed from 125 SYP per litre to 175 SYP per litre, a 40 percent increase.

Footage showed protesters blocking the M5 international highway between Aleppo and Damascus, burning tyres and calling for the government to reverse the decision. The road was reportedly blocked for several hours.

Footage shows protesters blocking the Aleppo–Damascus highway amid demonstrations across Syria over steep fuel price hikes.

The government has raised diesel prices by up to 40% and gasoline by up to 28% citing rising global fuel prices and an overhaul of the Baniyas refinery. pic.twitter.com/b9hScrxdp4
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 14, 2026

Protests were also reported in Khan Sheikhoun and elsewhere in Idlib province. In northeastern Syria, protesters blocked roads in parts of Hasakah and Raqqa countryside, with local reports saying some oil tankers were prevented from passing.

In a statement, Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said the increase reflected a combination of international market pressures and domestic supply constraints.

According to the ministry, Syria requires around 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products, against domestic production of roughly 100,000 barrels per day. The country therefore relies heavily on imports, with imported fuel accounting for around 60 percent of daily diesel supplies.

The government is also facing higher costs on international markets as the war between the US and Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies and shipping routes, especially through Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel in recent days amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, while attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping in the wider region have heightened concerns about fuel availability.

The ministry said Syria consumes around 7.72 million litres of diesel a day, of which about 4.63 million litres are imported, and 3.09 million litres are produced domestically.

Some of the crude produced in Syria is also too “heavy and is not fully compatible with the capabilities and specifications of existing refineries, limiting the extent to which local crude can replace imported gasoline and diesel”.

The ministry added that the increase is temporary and that prices will remain under review as international market conditions change.

The ministry noted that ongoing maintenance at the Baniyas refinery, expected to last about two months, has temporarily increased the need for imported fuel. Once completed, the refinery, which is Syria’s largest fuel-processing plant, should raise the country’s refining capacity.

The protests prompted the People's Assembly to summon Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir to answer questions over the fuel price increases.

The hearing, requested by the head of the People Assembly’s Energy Committee, was approved under Article 30 of Syria’s constitutional declaration and Article 168 of the assembly’s internal regulations.

According to the Syrian news outlet al-Ikhbariya, the hearing is scheduled for Thursday at noon at the People's Assembly headquarters. It will seek explanations from the energy ministry over the reasons for the increase and the circumstances and considerations surrounding the decision.

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