1920

The Independence did not last long. France and Britain had secretly agreed to divide the Middle East into French and British 'spheres of influence'. In 1920, French troops landed on the Syrian coast, threatening to occupy the country. The Syrians decided to resist. At the town of Maysaloon, on the outskirts of Damascus, the ill-equipped Syrian army was defeated, and Defense Minister Youssef al Azmeh was killed in the battle, which marked the beginning of 26 Years of French mandate over Syria.