National independence heroes, source of inspiration to defeat terrorism

April 17, is an important turning point in modern Syrian history. Syrian people remember these days with great pride the heroic deeds of the makers of Syria’s national independence. Forcing the French troops out of Syria on April 16, 1946 marked a turning point in the country’s history and a new phase of struggle.

The Syrian army continues to draw inspiration from it today in its battle against Wahabbi Takfiri terrorism. The steadfastness of Syrians today was inspired by the legacy of the heroes who achieved independence.

 Independence Day will remain a guiding light to the Syrians who are fighting valiantly to protect their homeland against the global conspiracy being hatched against the country.

The heroes of the Syrian Arab Army is now following in the footsteps of the legacy of their forefathers who achieved independence in clearing every inch of the homeland of the terrorism that has been exported to Syria form over 83 states with the aim of destroying the country and creating sectarian war among Syrian people to facilitate the passing of the Zionist project against Syria and the Arab region as a whole.

As the Syrian people celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Independence Day, they remember with great pride the heroic deeds of their fathers and forefathers who stood firm in the face of the French mandate forces and managed to force the occupiers out of their homeland offering great sacrifices.

 

Maysaloun was the spark that ignited the relentless and unabated struggle of Syrian people. Knowing beforehand that he would not be able to face the armed to the teeth French army, and despite the acceptance of King Faisal of Guru Ultimatum, the then minister of defence Yousef al-Azmeh insisted to face the French at Maysaloun to tell them that their stay in Syria would not be as easy as they thought.

Al-Azmeh and his friends gathered at Maysaloun and bravely confronted the French occupiers with their simple weapons in comparison to the highly sophisticated weapons of the French invading army. Al-Azmeh fell martyr along with scores of his friends igniting the spark of unceasing struggle.

Soon, revolts and upheavals flared up all over the country. In the coast, Sheikh Saleh al-Ali led the revolt against the French mandate forces.

The revolt was one of the first acts of resistance against the French forces, and it allied itself with other revolts in the country. Al-Ali coordinated his uprising with Ibrahim Hananu’s revolt in Aleppo, the uprising inTalkalakh by the Dandashi tribe and the revolt in Antioch by Subhi Barakat.

Feeling disappointed, and in order to facilitate their domination of the country, the French divided Syria into mini states, according to religions communities. But the Syrian people refused these states and announced the reunification of Syria defying the French mandate decisions.

The unabated Syrian resistance culminated in July 1925 when Sultan Al-Atrash announced the Great Syrian Revolution. He and his men gathered to protest against the French authorities. In many battles at Kafr, Mazraa, Musaifira, Golan and Majdal, the French forces were humiliatingly defeated.

Syrian swords and primitive guns defeated French tanks and military planes thanks to the strong Syrian will and the great sacrifices offered by Syrian people nation-wide. The aim of this revolution was to unify the Syrian regions in one independent Nation, and its slogan was: “Religion is for God, the Nation is for all of us”.

So the secularism objective was very clear in this revolution. But the French Mandate was against secularism in Syria, because it divided Syria into religious communities’ states to facilitate the passing of colonialist conspiracies against Syria.

The Revolution was generalized in almost all Syria, and the battles continued until 1927 when the French were forced to recognise Syria’s independence and start political negotiations with Syrian nationalists. The talks resulted in signing the 1936 Treaty in which France recognised Syria’s independence and Hashim al-Atassi became the first president.

France, however, didn’t honour it and tried to impose its domination on the country through various methods. For this reason, armed resistance continued relentlessly until April 1946 when France fully evacuated its military forces from the country finally giving it the independence the people have been wanting for the long time.

The huge gatherings that celebrated the National Day in all Syrian governorates send a strident message to the whole world that the Syrian people are supportive of the Syrian army until the last Takfiri terrorist is eliminated.

The Syrians, since independence, have been committed to their national stances and to rejecting all forms of foreign interference as the state’s sovereignty is sacred for all the Syrian people.

The steadfastness of the Syrian people in confronting the global plot and the Israeli enemy is a point in the march of struggle that has been going on since the French colonialism. Syria is facing an aggressive war waged for the same reasons that made it the beacon of all freemen and freedom fighters.

While the anniversary of the independence is being marked Syrian people are expressing complete support for their valiant army in the face terrorism, sectarianism and foreign interference.

The anniversary coincides with the continued French and Western hostile policies against the Syrian people in terms of financial, media, political and military support for the armed terrorist groups in Syria. History repeats itself.

France and its allies are trying to revive its colonialist dreams through supporting these takfiri terrorists by all possible means. But the Syrian people and army have foiled the conspiracy of France, Israel and their allies.

Inspiring the valiant deeds of the heroes of independence, the Syrian people and army will continue its struggle until every inch of the Syrian lands is liberated and cleared of all terrorists.

The Syrians are now facing the battle for the real independence, the independence of sovereignty, decision and will. Breaking a people, like the Syrians, who are experienced in struggle and preserving their dignity, is impossible, because they are ready to offer sacrifices for the sake of their homeland.

Syrian people, armed with their high awareness and national unity, won’t allow conspirators to undermine Syria and achieve their sinister attempts. They will remain committed to supporting the Syrian army against the conspiracy until security and stability is restored to all Syrian cities and villages.

Syria will be victorious with the strength of its people, army and leadership, and the Syrians will foil terrorism and neo-colonialism as they did when they foiled the old colonialism in the region and achieved independence.

K. Q.