[ An ultimatum was issued, on July 14, 1920, by Commander of the French Forces, General Henri Gouraud, to King Faisal bin Hussein’s Kingdom of Syria (which was proclaimed by King Faisal on March 8, 1920) to surrender or fight which was accepted on July 20, 1920 by the Syrian government. However, early in the morning of July 24, 1920, French forces broke a truce and attacked defeated the Arab forces of led by Yusuf Al-Azma, Minister of War, in the Battle of Maysalun (a strategic hilly location about 12 miles west of Damascus, overlooking a valley used as a passage to Damascus), captured Damascus the next day on July 25, 1920, and took control of Syria. Then, General Gouraud reportedly went to the tomb of Salah Eddin Al- Ayyubi (who defeated the Crusaders and liberated Jerusalem in 1187 AD), kicked it, and said: Awake, Salah Eddin. We have returned. My presence here consecrates victory of the Cross over the Crescent.” ]
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:04:29 +0000
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