Syria fuel price hikes test public patience with economic recovery

Anger rises in Syrian cities as fuel price hikes burden struggling households amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A protester in Aleppo burns tyres on the highway between Aleppo and Turkey to protest rising fuel prices in Syria, September 13, 2026 [Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters] By Justin Salhani Published On 14 Sep 2026 14 Sep 2026 The sight of protesters blocking roads and burning tyres on the streets of several Syrian cities and towns has highlighted popular anger over a government decision to increase fuel prices and a wider cost-of-living crisis.

The protests, which erupted on Sunday, come after months of complaints about soaring energy costs and criticisms that the lives of many Syrians have not improved since the fall of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.