Mass protests have erupted across Syrian cities against the administration of Ahmad al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani), driven by fuel price hikes and anger over corruption, according to reports. Demonstrators are blocking roads and burning tires, and security forces have opened fire on protesters, reportedly killing several. The protests come a day after similar demonstrations were reported.
On Monday, new reports from Syria indicate that security forces affiliated with the administration of Ahmad al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) opened fire on anti-government protesters, reportedly killing several. The development marks a violent escalation of the unrest that began over the weekend, with demonstrators blocking roads and burning tires in anger over sharp fuel price hikes and corruption.
The protests first erupted on Sunday, Sep 13, after fuel prices jumped at midnight — diesel up 40% and gasoline up 28%, reaching $1.41 per liter, as The Zioneer reported at 14:24 Jerusalem. Later that day, at the same time, reports indicated that the demonstrations were spreading across multiple cities, with road blockades and tire burnings. The current reports now describe security forces using live fire against protesters, with casualties reported.
The Zioneer has previously documented the scale of corruption within the Jolani administration. In an analysis published on Sat Aug 8, 14:32 Jerusalem, the desk described the corruption as "enormous," contrasting the flow of Saudi and Turkish funds to the rulers with the surrounding poverty. Anger over perceived corruption, including allegations that al-Shara's wife has been seen with expensive luxury items, has been a driving factor in the protests, alongside the fuel price increases.
The reports are based on unverified accounts circulating in Israeli media and cannot be independently confirmed. The number of casualties and the full extent of the protests remain unclear.
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