Unprecedented Protests Shake Southern Syria as Economy Crumbles

Protests have erupted in government-held provinces in southern Syria due to widespread anger over the crashing Syrian pound and the deteriorating purchasing power in the war-torn country. The protests, concentrated in Sweida and Daraa, are limited to southern Syria and have not reached government strongholds. The demonstrations come after President Bashar Assad doubled public sector wages and pensions, leading to inflation and exacerbating economic woes. The Syrian economy has been struggling due to years of conflict, corruption, mismanagement, and Western-led sanctions. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syrians in government-held areas live in poverty, with over half the population struggling to afford food.