Syrian protests against fuel price hikes entered a second consecutive day on Monday, with demonstrators blocking major roads, burning tires, and clashing with security forces, according to Abu Ali Express.
Protests against fuel prices in Syria escalated into a second consecutive day on Monday, with demonstrators blocking major roads, burning tires, and clashing with security forces, according to Abu Ali Express. The unrest followed a sharp fuel price hike that took effect at midnight Sunday, with diesel up 40% and gasoline up 28%, bringing a liter of diesel to $1.41—the highest among most Arab countries in the region, as The Zioneer reported at the time.
Earlier on Monday, truck drivers burned tires near the border with Turkey in protest, as The Zioneer reported at 19:17 Jerusalem. That came after a report at 14:46 Jerusalem describing a second consecutive day of small disturbances across Syria, fueled by public anger over rising prices, economic mismanagement, and the perceived submission of the Jolani government to Israel and Turkey. The thread began Sunday with initial protests that saw security forces open fire on demonstrators, reportedly killing several, as The Zioneer reported.
The demonstrations mark the most significant domestic challenge to the administration of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (Ahmad al-Shara) since it consolidated control over much of Syria. As The Zioneer has documented, Jolani's administration has faced growing popular anger over economic conditions and governance, with reports of security forces using live fire against protesters in previous incidents. The unrest reflects deep public frustration over both economic hardship and political direction.
The scope of Monday night's protests and any casualties remain unclear. The demonstrations appear to be decentralized, with multiple locations affected. Whether the unrest will spread further or provoke a more coordinated security response is not yet known.
5 developments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake