ALEPPO, Syria — The rebel-held parts of northern Syria that extend from Aleppo to Idlib and through Hama’s northern countryside are paralyzed; vehicular traffic is significantly reduced while fuel vendors are no longer present on the side of the roads. This was not the case before May 31, when the Islamic State (IS) prevented the entry of fuel to rebel-controlled areas.

The month of Ramadan is different this time around in the city of Aleppo, nearly half of whose neighborhoods are under the control of rebels. Markets there are undergoing an unprecedented recession, and customers are complaining about the higher prices of commodities in general. Fuel scarcity and high prices have also led to an increase in prices of all basic necessities, including food, locally manufactured goods, transportation and water.

During our visit to Aleppo city June 23, a diesel trader told Al-Monitor that the few diesel shops sell the fuel barrel (220 liters, or 58 gallons) for $260. The price of a fuel barrel before IS imposed the fuel embargo was $60.

Fuel supplied through IS is the primary source of energy in the rebel-controlled areas, with a smaller quantity coming from regime-controlled areas. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in the interim Syrian government in May, nearly 80% of oil and gas fields in Syria are controlled by IS, 12% by the Kurdish People's Protection Units and 8% by the regime, most of which are gas fields.