Syria is facing an economic war today, along with the political and military war that has already victimized the Syrian people. Syrian Prime Minister Wa el al-Halki said on June 19 that his government confronts a “media and economic war” that attemps to weaken the country's currency.

On June 22, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered the salaries of all government employees to be raised.

Syrian Deputy Minister of Finance Hayyan Salman said in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor that the recent salary increase is a “national decision that came at a time when some expected the collapse of the Syrian economy.  But today Syria is starting to win economically — after its political [Geneva II conference] and military [Qusair battle] victory — despite the harsh conditions caused by acts of criminal gangs, such as attacking the infrastructure and destructing economic facilities as well as cutting off roads."

Salman, who spoke to Al-Monitor in a phone interview on June 25, was referring to the Syrian armed opposition and the foreign fighters whom the Syrian regime refers to as “terrorist groups” or “criminal gangs.”