Battle of al-Mazraa

Battle of al-Mazraa
Part of The Great Syrian Revolt
Sultan Pasha al-Atrash's fighters preparing to go to battle, 1925
Date 2–3 August 1925 Location al-Mazraa, Jabal al-Druze Result Druze victory
Belligerents
France Army of the Levant	Druze and Bedouin rebels
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Roger Michaud Maj. Jean Aujac (KIA)	Sultan Pasha al-Atrash
Strength
3,500 French and colonial troops (infantry, cavalry, armored cars, artillery)	500 (cavalry)
Casualties and losses
601 fatalities, 428 wounded

France

The Battle of al-Mazra'a (Arabic: معركة المزرعة‎‎) was one of the major battles of the Great Syrian Revolt, that led to the spread of the rebellion throughout the French Mandate of Syria. It was fought on 2–3 August 1925 between Druze and Bedouin rebels led by Sultan Pasha al-Atrash and a heavily armed French force of the Army of the Levant near the town of al-Mazraa, around 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of the city of al-Suwayda.

France established its Mandate in Syria in 1920 following the Allied victory over the Ottoman Empire during World War I; from which France gained the territory of modern-day Syria. French authority over the area was finalized after their decisive victory over Emir Faisal's forces in the Battle of Maysalun on 24 July 1920. The French authorities divided the territory of Syria into separate autonomous entities based on the different sects in the country, including the Jabal al-Druze area of Hauran with its Druze majority of 90%. While the Druze, unlike their Arab Christian and Arab Sunni counterparts, were not as active in the Syrian nationalist movement during the early years of the Mandate, they feared the consequences of French rule. Because of their conflict with the Maronites of Lebanon who maintained close ties with the French before World War I, the Druze leadership worried about faring poorly under French authority.

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