Crucial Pre-Modern Benchmarks |
Syrian Umayyad Monuments |
1840: British ultimatum to Egypt.
1866: Syrian Protestant College founded (later known as the American University in Beirut).
1919, July: Syrian National Congress demands independence.
1919, August: Report of the King-Crane Commission.
1920: French overthrow King Faisal; beginning of French Mandate rule.
1925-1927: Syrians rebel against French Mandate rule.
1941: British occupy Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
1943: Shukri al-Quwwatli becomes Syria's first president.
1946: French leave Syria and Lebanon; Baath Party achieves formal recognition.
1948: War with Israel; three coups take place in Syria. (see also Golan Heights)
1958-1961: Syria united with Egypt.
1963, March: Baath Party seizes power in Syria.
1963, August: Syria and Israel skirmish.
1964, November: Syria and Israel skirmish.
1967, June: War with Israel; Syria's Golan Heights occupied. More on the Golan.
1970: Syrian involvement in Jordan's "Black September."
1971-2000: Presidency of Hafez al-Asad.
1976, August: Syria intervenes in Lebanon.
1981, December: Israel annexes Syria's Golan Heights. More on the Golan.
1989, Fall: Taif Accord ending civil war in Lebanon. Syria pledges to help keep the peace.
1989: Easing of Cold War tensions impacts Syria.
1996: Syria feels threatened by Israel-Turkey defense pact.
1999: Three way power play between Hizbullah, Syria, Israel.
2000, February: Fresh tensions between Israel and Syria.
2000, June: Syria's President Hafez al-Asad dies and is succeeded by his son, Bashar.
2001, March: Private banks permitted in Syria.
2001, April: Israeli air attack on Syrian positions.
2001, June: Syria pulls troops back from Beirut to Bekaa Valley.
2003, spring: American pressure on Syria.
2003, October: Israeli jets bomb Syrian targets.
2004, March: Syrian Kurds riot.
2004, May: American boycott against Syria.
2004, September: Syrian political pressure on Lebanon.
2005, February: Syria blamed for assassination of Lebanese former PM Hariri. (see also)
2005, April 26: The last Syrian troops withdraw from Lebanon.
2005, June: Signs of turmoil inside Syria.
2005, October 31: Syria chastened in UN for obstructing investigation into Hariri assassination.
2006, January 1: Ba'ath Party expels former V.P. Khaddam.
2006, February 11: President Bashar al-Asad reshuffles his cabinet.
2006, May 17: U.N. calls on Syria to cease meddling in affairs of Lebanon and forge formal ties.
2006, June 28: Israeli jets "buzz" areas of Syria.
2007, Winter: Rumors of secret peace talks between Israel and Syria.
2007, May 27: President Assad elected to new term.
2008, October: Syria establishes diplomatic ties with Lebanon.
2008, October 27: U.S. raid on Syria.
Why does Syria seek to influence what happens in Lebanon? -- See Taif Accord, 1989.