Syria fuel price hikes test public patience with economic recovery

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. The Syrian government has defended its efforts, arguing that it will take time to overcome decades of economic stagnation and international isolation.