Stations Run Dry
A worsening diesel shortage left most fuel stations in Aleppo empty over the weekend of 23 and 24 October 2026, with the last operating outlet closing after midnight on Friday. Long lines formed wherever fuel remained, and operators halted sales once their tanks ran dry.
By Saturday morning only a handful of stations had resumed sales, and demand far outstripped the limited volumes on hand, leaving many drivers to wait without any guarantee of a turn at the pump.
A Trickle of Tankers
More than 12 diesel tankers reached the city on Friday, but the volume fell short of demand and stocks were exhausted within hours. Fresh deliveries began arriving around 8 a.m. on Saturday, yet supplies had reached only four stations, which distributed fuel amid heavy crowds.
Districts in the Aleppo countryside reported an almost complete cutoff, deepening a shortage that has spread across several Syrian provinces in recent days.
Transport Buckles
The squeeze hit public transport hardest. Shared minibus service on several routes dropped by roughly half, and one line in eastern Aleppo thinned from about 20 vehicles to around 10. Companies holding their own diesel reserves kept running, and fares had not yet risen despite the scarcity. Commuters on the hardest-hit routes faced longer waits and fewer departures as vehicles were sidelined for lack of fuel.
Fuel on the Black Market
With pumps dry, some drivers turned to informal sellers, paying between 250 and 280 Syrian pounds (SYP) per liter for diesel bought outside official channels. The parallel trade underscored how quickly a supply gap translates into higher real costs for households and small businesses.
A Deadline and the Winter Ahead
A local energy official pledged that the crisis would ease within 48 hours, a window that was nearly spent without a stable return of supply. Residents voiced concern about securing heating diesel as colder weather approaches, a seasonal strain that compounds the immediate disruption to daily travel and commerce.