Story perspectives

Syria Raises Fuel Prices 40%, Protesters Block Tankers

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 2:45 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Syria's interim government raised diesel price 40% to 175 Syrian pounds per litre.
The hike also increased gasoline and gas prices nationwide.
Protesters burned tyres and blocked the Damascus-Aleppo highway, halting oil tanker convoys.
More than 50 People's Assembly members asked Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir to be questioned Thursday.
The Energy Ministry said the hikes respond to higher global fuel costs and a three-month Baniyas refinery shutdown.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Arab oil embargo, triggered by OPEC's decision in October 1973, caused global gasoline prices to quadruple within months. Saudi Arabia and Iran collectively cut production by 5 million barrels daily, while the United States saw crude prices surge from $3 to $12 per barrel. Similarly, Syria’s interim government in 2024 raised diesel to 175 pounds per litre, sparking protests that blocked the Damascus-Aleppo highway and halted oil tanker convoys. The 1973 crisis taught that abrupt subsidy removals can destabilize economies, prompting governments now to balance fiscal reforms with social unrest mitigation.

1 of 2

Story summary

Syria's interim government raised diesel price 40% to 175 Syrian pounds per litre.
The hike also increased gasoline and gas prices nationwide.
Protesters burned tyres and blocked the Damascus-Aleppo highway, halting oil tanker convoys.
More than 50 People's Assembly members asked Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir to be questioned Thursday.
The Energy Ministry said the hikes respond to higher global fuel costs and a three-month Baniyas refinery shutdown.

1 / 2