In a rare display of dissent, hundreds of Syrians took to the streets in Sweida, a province in the southern part of the country, to protest against the government's decision to lift fuel subsidies. The move has further exacerbated the dire living conditions that Syrians have been enduring due to the 12 years of war and its toll on the economy.

Local news outlet Suwayda24 posted videos showing protesters holding banners and chanting anti-government slogans, such as "freedom" and "long live Syria, down with Bashar al-Assad." The protests in Sweida come on the heels of a strike held the previous day, which aimed to draw attention to deteriorating living conditions and price hikes in the province.

Sweida has largely been spared from the worst of the civil conflict and is considered to be the heartland of the country's Druze minority. However, even in government strongholds, signs of discontent and simmering dissatisfaction have started to emerge. The unrest has not been limited to Sweida alone.

Protesters also gathered in Jaramana, a suburb of the capital city Damascus, to express their frustration with recurrent power cuts. Demonstrations were also reported in Daraa province, where protesters raised the opposition flag and called for the departure of President Assad.

Daraa was the birthplace of Syria's uprising and, despite coming under regime control in 2018 through a Russia-backed ceasefire deal, it continues to suffer from violence and dire living conditions. The protests in Sweida are being described as unprecedented since 2011, signaling a growing discontent among the population.

While security forces have not interfered with the demonstrators so far, tensions remain high. Economic factors, including soaring inflation, rising cost of living, and high unemployment, have pushed Syrians to their breaking point. The conflict has decimated the country's infrastructure and industry, leading to a sharp devaluation of the Syrian pound and widespread poverty.

Jihad Yazigi, editor of economic publication The Syria Report, believes that the fuel price hike is just one more burden on a population already exhausted from the consequences of war. He contends that resentment towards President Assad and his family is deep-rooted, and the regime is incapable of providing long-term solutions.

As the protests continue to spread, demonstrators hope that their voices will be heard and that meaningful change will be brought about in their strife-torn country.