Damascus

The Syrian National Congress declared its complete independence. However, Syria had been promised to the French. The League of Nations officially confirmed the French mandate, and French forces took Damascus by force. They had previously created a separate state out of Lebanon, which had substantial Christian population.

The French mandate over Syria, also known as the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, was a result of the post-World War I reorganization of territories previously held by the Ottoman Empire. The League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations, granted France the mandate to administer and govern the region.

In 1920, the Syrian National Congress declared the complete independence of Syria. However, despite the aspirations of the Syrian nationalists, France had already been promised control over the territory through the Sykes-Picot Agreement (a secret agreement between France and Britain to divide the Ottoman territories in the Middle East).

The League of Nations officially confirmed the French mandate over Syria in 1923. The mandate granted France the authority to govern the region and establish institutions according to its own interests and policies. French forces, led by General Henri Gouraud, entered Damascus in July 1920, and Syria came under French administration.

Under French rule, Syria experienced significant political and social changes. France aimed to maintain control and influence over the region, implementing policies that favored certain groups while suppressing others. They fostered divisions among different religious and ethnic communities, including the establishment of a separate state out of Lebanon, which had a substantial Christian population.

The French mandate lasted until 1946 when Syria gained independence. However, the impact of French rule and policies continued to shape Syrian society and politics for years to come.