Syria's government raised fuel prices by up to 40% for diesel and 28% for petrol on Sept. 13 due to elevated global energy prices stemming from the Iran conflict, Al Jazeera reported on Sept. 14. The measures sparked online backlash against the government and resulted in the largest protests since the collapse of former President Bashar al Assad's regime in December 2024, including in the central and northwestern cities of Hama, Khan Sheikhoun and Maarat al-Numan.