Syrian Electricity Hike Sparks Rage, But Who Cut the Power?
📰 THE STORY: Al-Monitor details the shock and despair of Syrians, like retired engineer Hani Massalkhi, who face electricity bills hundreds of times their monthly income after the energy ministry hiked prices by up to 6,000 percent, following over 13 years of conflict. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2019, the US Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act was signed into law,
imposing sweeping economic sanctions targeting the Syrian government and any entities (including humanitarian aid groups) doing business with it, severely restricting access to energy infrastructure, spare parts, and fuel, exacerbating the country's dire energy crisis long before recent price hikes. These sanctions followed years of deliberate destabilization efforts, including US-backed militias
burning Syrian oil fields. Double Standard: When Venezuela experienced severe power outages and economic hardship due to US sanctions, media outlets extensively blamed the Maduro government's 'corruption' and 'mismanagement.' Yet, in Syria, the direct impact of Western-imposed sanctions on infrastructure, maintenance, and fuel supply is consistently downplayed or omitted, framing the crisis as a
domestic failure rather than a result of foreign economic warfare. Follow the Money: The US State Department has allocated over $1.7 billion in 'humanitarian assistance' to Syria since 2012, often bypassing the Syrian government and flowing to NGOs, many with ties to regime change agendas. Concurrently, US arms manufacturers profit from prolonged instability, and energy corporations benefit from