The French Mandate

What Is?

The French Mandate for Syria started in 1920, shortly after the expulsion of the Ottomans in 1918.

After 400 years of Ottoman occupation, France and Britain had planned to divide the Levant and create new countries.

This took the form of a “Mandate” by which Syria and Lebanon were subjected to French control, whereas, Palestine was put under British rule.

The French Mandate ended in 1945 after years of struggles for independence. Struggles that saw thousands of martyrs and large parts of Damascus Old City get burned down to the ground.

The French Invasion of Syria