Assad fires prime minister amid rising protests
Bashar Assad Friday fired PM Imad Khamis as anti-government demonstrators protested the worsening economic crisis. No reason was given for the dismissal. In protests mainly in the Druze town of Suweida, people called for Assad’s overthrow, as the plummeting currency boosted prices. Pro-government counter-protests blamed Western sanctions. More US measures next week will target individual supporters of Assad and his allies in Syria’s nine-year civil war.