1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus

The 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus (also called the 1860 Syrian Civil War) was a civil conflict in Mount Lebanon during Ottoman rule in 1860–1861 fought mainly between the local Druze and Christians. Following decisive Druze victories and massacres against the Christians, the conflict spilled over into other parts of Ottoman Syria, particularly Damascus, where thousands of Christian residents were killed by Muslim and Druze militiamen. The fighting precipitated a French-led international military intervention.

1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus

The ruins of the Christian quarter of Damascus in 1860
Date23 May – 11 July 1860
Location
Mount Lebanon, Beqaa Valley, Galilee and Damascus, Ottoman Empire
Result
  • Initial Druze military victory
  • Massacres of Christians in Mount Lebanon and Damascus
  • French military intervention
Belligerents

Maronites and allies

  • Rural Maronite militiamen
  • Zahalni militiamen
  • Shihab dynasty

Supported by:

  • French expeditionary forces

Rural Druze clans

Supported by:

Commanders and leaders
  • Youssef Bey Karam
  • Tanyus Shahin
  • Yusuf al-Shantiri
  • Abdallah Abu Khatir
  • Yusuf al-Mubayyad
  • Abu Samra al-Ghanim
  • Sa'id Jumblatt
  • Khattar Imad
  • Ali Imad 
  • Qasim Imad
  • Bashir Nakad
  • Kenj Ahmad
  • Hasan Agha al-Tawil
  • Isma'il al-Atrash
Strength
c. 50,000 (claimed) c. 12,000 (Druze)
Casualties and losses

Mount Lebanon: 12,000 Christians and Druze fighters and civilians killed (10,000 of which Christians)

Damascus: 12,000 people, mostly Christian civilians, killed
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.