Syria–Lebanon campaign

The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was a military conflict during the Second World War. It took place in June and July of 1941. At this time, the territories of Syria and Lebanon were controlled by Vichy France. Vichy France was a state that acted as a vassal to Nazi Germany. The British Empire launched an invasion to prevent the Axis powers from using these lands as bases. They feared German attacks on Egypt would follow if the Axis gained control of the region.

The tension began with political changes in nearby Iraq. On 1 April 1941, a coup d'état brought Iraqi nationalists to power. These leaders were headed by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani. He sought support from Italy and Germany. This led to the Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941. During this war, Admiral François Darlan allowed German and Italian aircraft to use Syrian airfields. These planes often landed in Syria while pretending to be Iraqi aircraft. This movement helped the Axis powers support the Iraqi nationalists.

British leaders were worried about several specific threats. They were already fighting the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa. They also faced German attacks in the Battle of Greece and the Battle of Crete. If Germany used Syrian airfields, they could create a northern front against Egypt. There was also a fear that German troops on the Eastern Front might link up with Vichy forces. This could happen if Germany defeated the Soviet Union and moved south through the Caucasus.

The Vichy French defense was quite organized. Henri Dentz served as the High Commissioner for the Levant and commander of the Armée du Levant. His forces included seven infantry battalions of regular French troops. These included the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment and the 24th Colonial Infantry Regiment. He also commanded eleven battalions of "special troops," which were indigenous Syrian and Lebanese soldiers. These special troops included at least 5,000 cavalry in both horse and motorized units. The French also had air and naval support. Their navy included two destroyers, the Guépard and Valmy, and one sloop named Élan.

Operation Exporter involved a massive group of British and Commonwealth forces. At the start, the force included about 33,000 soldiers and 31,000 troops. The British provided about 50 aircraft for the operation. Their navy contributed five cruisers, eight destroyers, and a landing ship. The ground forces were divided into several commands. General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson led forces in Palestine. These included the 7th Australian Division and the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade. Another group, called Gentforce, was led by Major-General Paul Louis Le Gentilhomme.

The British plan used four different lines of invasion to overwhelm the Vichy defenses. One line attacked from Palestine toward Damascus and Beirut. A second line moved through northern Syria and Palmyra. A third force attacked from the east, coming from Iraq. This group included the 10th Indian Infantry Division under Major-General William "Bill" Slim. They moved up the Euphrates River from Haditha toward Deir ez-Zor. Finally, a force moved from Tripoli in northern Lebanon. This multi-directional approach was designed to control the entire region quickly.

As the fighting continued, the Vichy French forces were pushed back. The 21st Australian Brigade moved toward Beirut along the coast. They crossed the Litani River and moved toward Sidon. By 10 July 1941, the Australian forces were very close to entering Beirut. Because of this pressure, the French sought an armistice to stop the fighting. A ceasefire began at one minute past midnight on 12 July. The campaign officially ended when the Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre was signed on 14 July. The signing took place at the Sidney Smith Barracks on the outskirts of the city.

This campaign remains a unique part of Second World War history. Even in the countries that participated, it is often not well known. During the conflict, Time magazine described the campaign as a "mixed show." The fighting was a result of complex political shifts in Iraq and the shifting control of French territories. It showed how local conflicts could impact the larger global war. The outcome changed the control of the Levant and prevented the Axis from establishing a base near Egypt.