Practical procedures for controlling Djebel-Druze

This analytical study, based on primary sources from the French Diplomatic Archives in Nantes and the Ministry of the Armed Forces (SHD), examines the operational phase of the French Mandate in Djebel-Druze between 1921 and 1923. The research highlights the pivotal roles of Lieutenant-Colonel Georges Catroux and Commander Gabriel Trenga in transforming the theoretical submission of the region into a tangible political and administrative reality. The article explores the multifaceted responsibilities assigned to Trenga as Administrative Adviser, Head of Intelligence, and eventually Governor of the Djebel. It analyzes the confidential instructions that prioritized governing through local elites (specifically the al-Atrash family) as a strategic alternative to direct military administration. Furthermore, the study documents the systematic intelligence efforts to conduct a comprehensive "military inventory" of Druze fighters and monitor geopolitical dynamics with Transjordan, facilitating the initial French military entry without armed confrontation. The scholarly value of this work lies in uncovering the mechanisms of "soft power" and sociological analysis employed by French intelligence officers to consolidate colonial influence in southern Syria.