March 1949 Syrian coup d'état
Encyclopedia
The Syrian coup d'état of March 1949 was a bloodless coup d'état
that took place on March 29 and was the first military coup in the history of Syria. It was led by the Army chief of staff
at the time, Husni al-Zaim. Syria's President, Shukri al-Kuwatli
, was briefly imprisoned, but then released into exile in Egypt
. Al-Za'im also imprisoned many political leaders, such as Munir al-Ajlani
, whom he accused of conspiring to overthrow the republic. The coup was carried out with discreet backing of the American embassy, and possibly assisted by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party
, although al-Za'im himself is not known to have been a member.
Among the officers that assisted al-Za'ims takeover was Adib al-Shishakli and Sami al-Hinnawi
, both of whom would later become military leaders of the country.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that took place on March 29 and was the first military coup in the history of Syria. It was led by the Army chief of staff
Syrian Army
The Syrian Army, officially called the Syrian Arab Army, is the land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It is the dominant military service of the four uniformed services, controlling the senior most posts in the armed forces, and has the greatest manpower, approximately 80 percent of the...
at the time, Husni al-Zaim. Syria's President, Shukri al-Kuwatli
Shukri al-Kuwatli
Shukri al-Quwatli was the president of Syria from 1943 to 1949 and from 1955 to 1958.-Political life:He was born in Damascus into a Turkish family, originally from Konya....
, was briefly imprisoned, but then released into exile in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Al-Za'im also imprisoned many political leaders, such as Munir al-Ajlani
Munir al-Ajlani
Munir al-Ajlani was a politician, writer, lawyer, and scholar. He made history as the youngest Syrian minister...
, whom he accused of conspiring to overthrow the republic. The coup was carried out with discreet backing of the American embassy, and possibly assisted by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party
Syrian Social Nationalist Party
The Syrian Social Nationalist Party , is a secular nationalist political party in Lebanon and Syria. It advocates the establishment of a Syrian nation state spanning the Fertile Crescent, including present day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, Cyprus, Kuwait,...
, although al-Za'im himself is not known to have been a member.
Among the officers that assisted al-Za'ims takeover was Adib al-Shishakli and Sami al-Hinnawi
Sami al-Hinnawi
Colonel Sami Hilmy al-Hinnawi was a Syrian politician and military man. He was born in Aleppo and had sereved in the Ottoman army before serving in the French-Syrian army during the French Mandate of Syria....
, both of whom would later become military leaders of the country.
See also
- Adib al-Shishakli
- 1954 Syrian coup d'état1954 Syrian coup d'état-Background:With December 1951 coup, Colonel Adib Shishakli took power, forming a military authocracy. As the leader of Syria, Adib Shishakli recognized the desires of Syria's Arab majority, and accordingly adopted a policy of pan-Arabism...
- 1963 Syrian coup d'état
- 1966 Syrian coup d'état