Battle of al-Musayfirah

Battle of al-Musayfirah
Part of The Great Syrian Revolt
Sultan el-Atrache during a rebel ceremony in Hauran on 14 August 1925.
Date 17 September 1925 Location Al-Musayfirah, Hauran, Mandatory Syria Result French victory
Belligerents
France Army of the Levant French Air Force	Druze rebels
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Maurice Gamelin Col. Charles Andréa Capt. Landriau Maj. Kratzert	Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Sheikh Salman Hamza
Strength
600–800 (Gamelin's troops numbered 8,000 but arrived after the battle)	2,500
Casualties and losses
47 dead 83 wounded	300–500 deaths 500 wounded and captured (later executed)

The Battle of al-Musayfirah (also spelled Battle of Messifre or Battle of Moussiefre) was one of the major military engagements between Druze rebels and the French Army on 17 September 1925, during the early stage of the Great Syrian Revolt, which continued on until 1927. After initial rebel victories against French forces at al-Kafr and then al-Mazraa, an advance guard of the French Army, then under the leadership of General Maurice Gamelin, was dispatched to the village of al-Musayfirah on 15 September. After clearing the village of its inhabitants, they set up fortifications in preparation for an assault on al-Suwayda.

The battle commenced on 16 September when Druze rebels launched an early morning attack against French positions. Unable to significantly breach French lines, the rebels experienced heavy casualties after sunrise when they were consistently bombarded by French aircraft for three hours. The rebels subsequently withdrew, although a number were captured by French forces prior. Several of al-Musayfirah's residents were also killed before and during the battle. The French victory, the first significant one during the revolt, paved the way for their capture of al-Suwayda on 24 September, although they withdrew two months later due to inhospitable conditions.