Hundreds of Syrians chant "The people want to topple the regime", as they rally in the southern city of Sweida to protest against President Bashar al-Assad's government, in a wave of intensifying demonstrations spurred by economic hardship. The protests in Sweida erupted after President Bashar al-Assad's government ended fuel subsidies in August, dealing a heavy blow to Syrians reeling from war and a crippling economic crisis. According to the United Nations, most of the Syrian population has been pushed into poverty.