Capture of Salkhad

Coordinates: 32°29′38″N 36°42′38″E / 32.49389°N 36.71056°E / 32.49389; 36.71056
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Salkhad
Part of
Syria
Result Druze victory
Belligerents

France

Druze Druze rebelsCommanders and leaders France Gen. Maurice Sarrail
France Tommy Martin
Sultan Pasha al-Atrash
Druze Mit'ib al-Atrash
Strength France 40 (officers and Mandatory employees) Druze 250 (cavalry)Casualties and losses France 2 wounded Druze None

The capture of Salkhad refers to the clash between the

French Mandate based in Salkhad on 20 July. It would become the first confrontation of the Great Syrian Revolt. Preceding the battle, on 19 July, al-Atrash's forces shot down a French reconnaissance plane, the first shots of the revolt,[1]
and captured its injured pilots. The next day, rebels captured Salkhad and its French garrison without facing significant resistance.

Background

In 1918, at the end of

Jabal al-Arab mountain region. Tensions grew between the French authorities and the Druze leadership, as the latter viewed the former as encroaching on their territory and not respecting their traditions.[2]

In early July 1925 five Druze leaders were summoned to Damascus by the French High Commissioner

Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, one of the two summoned leaders who chose not meet Sarrail, began to rally his forces in preparation for a revolt against French rule in all of Syria.[3]

French garrison surrender

In mid-July Sultan and his cousin Mit'ib, the other summoned Druze leader who did not leave for Damascus, began an expedition to assemble their troops, beginning with their kinsmen in

Orman, all satellite villages of Salkhad,[4] the second largest town of the Jabal. In Orman, on 19 July, the first shots of what would become the Great Syrian Revolt were fired as al-Atrash's forces gunned down a French reconnaissance plane surveilling their ground force, which numbered 250, all cavalry. The plane crashed, but its two pilots survived, albeit wounded. They were captured by the Ali Mustafa al-Atrash, then being a young teenager, and sheltered in his family's home, while others from Orman set the plane on fire.[5]

On 20 July al-Atrash's forces entered and occupied Salkhad, calling its men to arms in the central square, to which many responded. They laid siege to the French garrison, but no resistance was encountered. The garrison, which consisted of 40 officers and government employees surrendered and the rebels proceeded to set on fire and reclaim all French-governmental buildings in the town, including the library of Salkhad's French delegation and the police station.[6]

Aftermath

Main article: Battle of al-Kafr

The following day al-Atrash and his rebels departed further up the Jabal and more people from al-Kafr and

Syrian nationalists throughout the country were inspired to partake in the revolt.[9][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Provence, 2005, p. 27.
  2. ^ Betts, 1990, pp. 84–85.
  3. ^ Provence, pp. 27–29.
  4. ^ Provence, 2005, p. 57.
  5. ^ Provence, 2005, p. 58.
  6. ^ Provence, 2005, p. 59.
  7. ^ Provence, 2005, p. 60.
  8. ^ a b c Barr, p. 126.
  9. ^ a b Provence, pp. 59–60.

Bibliography

  • ISBN 978-0-393-07065-1
    .
  • Betts, Robert Brenton (2010). The Druze. Yale University Press.
    ISBN 978-0-300-04810-0
    .
  • Provence, Michael (2005). The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism. University of Texas Press.
    ISBN 978-0-292-70680-4
    .

32°29′38″N 36°42′38″E / 32.49389°N 36.71056°E / 32.49389; 36.71056

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