After the Crusaders' dominion (11th century), Syria was ruled by the Mamelukes until it became in 1516 part of the Ottoman Empire. The beginning of the First World War ended up with the Ottoman rule, as an alliance between Britain, France and the Arab people resulted in the expulsion of the Turks from Syria. 

Despite Syrian nationalist claims for independence, the League of Nations declared in 1992 a French mandate over Syria. The area under mandate had been divided into four distinct units; a much enlarged Lebanon (including Beirut and Tripoli), a Syrian Republic, and the two districts of Latakia and Jebel Druse. However, nationalist sentiment opposed the mandate on principle, and deplored the failure to introduce full representative institutions and the tendency to encourage separatism amongst the religious minorities. This discontent, especially strong in the Syrian Republic, became open revolt in 1925-26, during the course of which the French twice bombarded Damascus (October 1925 and May 1926). A long struggle between the Europeans and the Syrians had started and did not end until the end of Second World War, when the British left the region. 

The modern state of Syria was established in 1946. The same year, Syria became a charter member of the United Nations. Political instability followed the birth of the Republic, with one military coup succeeding another. In 1963 the Ba'ath party came to power and the country began to stabilise. Another coup in 1970 brought to power the then Defence Minister, Hafez al-Assad, who has remained as President to the present day.