Great Syrian Revolt | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statue of the Great Syrian Revolution in Majdal Shams | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Syrian rebels | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Maurice Sarrail Roger Michaud † Maurice Gamelin Henry de Jouvenel Charles Andréa |
Sultan al-Atrash Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar Ayyash Al-Haj Hasan al-Kharrat Ibrahim Hananu Nasib al-Bakri Fawzi al-Qawuqji |
The Great Syrian Revolt (Arabic: الثورة السورية الكبرى), also known as the Revolt of 1925, was a general uprising across the State of Syria and Greater Lebanon during the period of 1925 to 1927. The leading rebel forces initially comprised fighters of the Jabal Druze State in southern Syria, and were later joined by Sunni, Druze and Shiite and factions all over Syria. The common goal was to end French occupation in the newly mandated regions, which passed from Turkish to French administration following World War I.
The revolt was a response to the repressive policies of the French authorities under the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, which divided Syria into several occupied territories. The new French administration was perceived as prejudiced against the dominant Arab culture and intent on changing the character of the country. In addition resentment was caused by the refusal of the French authorities to set a timetable for the independence of Syria.
It was an extension of the Syrian uprisings that had begun when French colonial forces occupied the coastal regions in early 1920, and continued until late June 1927. While the French army and local collaborators achieved military victory, Syrian resistance led to the establishment of a national government of Syria, under which the divided territories were reunited. In addition parliamentary elections were held as a preliminary step towards the final departure of the French from Syria in 1946.[1]