Protests Continue in Syria’s Sweida, Calls for Decentralization Rise

Roads are blocked in Sweida, Syria, on Thursday (Sweida 24 site - Reuters)
Roads are blocked in Sweida, Syria, on Thursday (Sweida 24 site - Reuters)
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Protests Continue in Syria’s Sweida, Calls for Decentralization Rise

Roads are blocked in Sweida, Syria, on Thursday (Sweida 24 site - Reuters)
Roads are blocked in Sweida, Syria, on Thursday (Sweida 24 site - Reuters)

Popular protests continued on Saturday in the province of Sweida, southern Syria, against the deteriorating living conditions in the country, especially in light of the recent increase in fuel prices.

Sources reported that demonstrators blocked the Damascus-Sweida road near the village of Al-Mutonah for an hour before reopening it.

Amid these developments, there were calls for a general strike on Sunday in response to what protestors described as “rampant corruption and favoritism in government circles” and to protest the declining living standards.

In the demonstrations over the past days, some protesters have held signs advocating for decentralization, while others demanded the departure of those who fail to offer solutions to the people’s problems.

Protests have emerged as the Syrian pound continues its decline. On Friday, it dropped to the 16,000-pound mark against the US dollar, only to slide to 14,600 pounds per dollar within hours.

The pricing of goods in markets is set based on the anticipated highest exchange rate of 16,500 pounds to safeguard against potential losses amid fluctuating exchange rates and rising inflation.

International estimates suggest that over 95% of Syrians now live below the poverty line.

Protests had erupted in Sweida on Wednesday in response to the government’s decision to raise fuel prices, reduce subsidies and increase public sector wages by 100%.

However, even with this raise, the salary now equates to just $20 – an amount that barely covers two days’ expenses for an individual, especially amidst the sudden surge in inflation that started Wednesday.

This economic instability resulted in significant market disruptions and led to transportation strikes by private bus operators in most Syrian provinces

Various regions in Daraa witnessed protests condemning the living conditions and opposing recent government decisions.



Egypt Welcomes Tehran’s Renaming of ‘Islamabouli Street’ as a Turning Point in Relations with Iran

Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt Welcomes Tehran’s Renaming of ‘Islamabouli Street’ as a Turning Point in Relations with Iran

Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)
Relations between Egypt and Iran saw a notable thaw following Araghchi’s visit to Cairo (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt has welcomed Iran’s decision to rename a Tehran street once dedicated to Khalid al-Islamabouli - the Egyptian army officer who assassinated President Anwar Sadat in 1981 - describing the move as a significant step toward resetting bilateral relations.

In the first official Egyptian response to the development, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Renaming the street is a positive step in Egyptian-Iranian relations. It helps put matters back on the right track.”

The street, long a source of tension between Cairo and Tehran, has now been renamed after Hassan Nasrallah, the former Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, following a decision by the Tehran City Council.

Iranian media reported that a formal ceremony was held to unveil the new name, attended by officials, intellectuals, and civil society figures. The change was part of a wider initiative that saw 11 streets in the capital renamed last month.

Dr. Hoda Raouf, a Cairo-based expert on Iranian affairs, said the move reflects “a meaningful shift and a clear sign of Iran’s serious intent to restore relations with Egypt.”

She noted that Egyptian-Iranian ties have two key dimensions: regional security - particularly Egypt’s opposition to Iranian interference in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen - and the bilateral relationship, which has long been strained over symbolic gestures such as honoring Sadat’s assassin.

Political philosopher and Iran specialist Dr. Mohamed Khairy echoed that assessment, calling the street name change “a significant development.”

He emphasized that the decision was passed by majority vote and attended by influential figures from Iran’s political establishment, which he said reflects a genuine desire within Iran to repair ties with Cairo.

The gesture comes amid signs of warming relations between the two nations. Iranian top diplomat Abbas Araghchi recently visited Cairo, where he met President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and senior officials.

His visit included a symbolic walk through the historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar, prayers at the Al-Hussein Mosque, and dinner at the famed Naguib Mahfouz restaurant.

Sisi also held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the recent Israeli escalation against Iran, in which he affirmed Egypt’s rejection of Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.