Syria–Lebanon campaign

Quick Facts: Who was Syria–Lebanon campaign?

Subject:

Syria–Lebanon campaign

Known for:

British military operation to liberate Syria and Lebanon from German control in 1941.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the liberation of Syria and Lebanon from German control in June and July 1941 by British Empire forces during the Second World War. On 1 April 1941, after the Iraqi coup d'état, Iraq was controlled by Iraqi nationalists led by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, who appealed for Italian and German support. The Anglo-Iraqi War (2–31 May 1941) led to the overthrow of the Ali regime and the installation of a pro-British government. During this conflict, Admiral François Darlan allowed German aircraft to use Vichy airfields in Syria for attacks against the British in Iraq. The British invaded Syria and Lebanon in June to prevent the Axis powers from using the Syrian Republic and French Lebanon as bases for attacks on Egypt, during an invasion scare in the aftermath of the Axis victories in the Battle of Greece (6–30 April 1941) and the Battle of Crete (20 May – 1 June).

Career & Major Achievements

In the Western Desert Campaign (1940–1943) in North Africa, the British fought Operation Battleaxe to end the siege of Tobruk and the East African Campaign (10 June 1940 – 27 November 1941) in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The French conducted a vigorous defence of Syria but, on 10 July, as the 21st Australian Brigade was on the verge of entering Beirut, the French sought an armistice. At one minute past midnight on 12 July, a ceasefire came into effect and ended the campaign. The Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre (Convention of Acre) was signed on 14 July at the Sidney Smith Barracks on the outskirts of the city. While the surrender was being held, Time magazine referred to the Syria–Lebanon campaign as a "mixed show", and the campaign to this day remains relatively unknown, even in the countries that participated in it.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On 28 May 1941, Admiral François Darlan, on behalf of Vichy France, signed the Paris Protocols, an agreement with the Germans which granted Germany access to military facilities in Vichy-controlled Syria. The protocols remained unratified, but Charles Huntziger, the Vichy Minister of War, sent orders to Henri Dentz, the High Commissioner for the Levant, to allow aircraft of the German Luftwaffe and the Italian Regia Aeronautica to refuel in Syria. Marked as Iraqi aircraft, Axis aircraft under Fliegerführer Irak landed in Syria en route to the Kingdom of Iraq during the Anglo-Iraqi War. Darlan, a confirmed Anglophobe, allowed the German and Italian aircraft to use Syrian airfields partly because of attacks on Vichy French ships by the British. He calculated that, since July 1940, 167 French ships had been seized by British forces.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1940: 1940 Milestone — In the Western Desert Campaign (1940–1943) in North Africa, the British fought Operation Battleaxe to end the siege of Tobruk and the East African Campaign (10 June 1940 – 27 November 1941) in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
2. 1941: 1941 Milestone — The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the liberation of Syria and Lebanon from German control in June and July 1941 by British Empire forces during the Second World War.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Syria–Lebanon campaign

True or False: “The primary goal of the British invasion was solely to secure oil fields in Iraq for Allied use.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While securing Iraqi oilfields was a concern, the broader objective was preventing Axis powers from using Syria and Lebanon as bases for attacks on Egypt.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Kuper — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Adnan Khayr Allah — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Historical peer (Born in 1940) (1940): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Abdurrahman Wahid — Historical peer (Born in 1940) (1940): Influential Indonesian politician, Islamic leader, and fourth President known for pluralism.
• Agustín Pedro Justo — Historical peer (Died in 1943) (1943): 18th President of Argentina, leading during the tumultuous Infamous Decade.
• Akaji Maro — Historical peer (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese butoh performer, director, and acclaimed film actor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Syria–Lebanon campaign