This article investigates the historical circumstances and strategic maneuvers that led to the first French military occupation of Swaida, the capital of Djebel-Druze, in August 1921. Drawing on declassified French military and diplomatic archives from the Ministry of Defense in Vincennes and the Nantes archives, the study analyzes how the French Mandate authorities, led by Georges Catroux, utilized political pretexts to transition from administrative oversight to direct military control. The paper focuses on the pivotal figure of Asad al-Atrash, a Druze officer in Prince Abdullah’s army, whose return to the mountain with a "Sharifian" flag provided the French with the necessary justification for intervention. Through a detailed examination of intelligence bulletins (notably R/17) and the operational reports of Major Pouille, the author reconstructs the mobilization of the "Djebel-Druze Military Convoy." The study reveals that the French intervention was framed as a mission to "halt Sharifian propaganda" and "resolve inter-familial disputes," while its primary objective was to solidify colonial grip over the southern Syrian frontiers. The article concludes by highlighting how the surrender of Asad al-Atrash failed to prevent the military entry, instead marking the beginning of a new phase of heightened tension and grassroots resistance in the region.
Nawras Aziz (Thu,) studied this question.