Lu'ay al-Atassi (Arabic: لؤي الأتاسي, romanized: Luʾay al-ʾAtāsī; 1926 − 24 November 2003)[1] was a senior commander in the Syrian Army and later the President of Syria between 9 March and 27 July 1963.
Atassi was born in Homs in 1926 to the politically prominent al-Atassi clan. He entered the officer corps after graduating from the Homs Military Academy in the mid-1940s, and fought during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War in Palestine. In 1954, President Hashim al-Atassi appointed him Chief of Military Protocol. He was transferred to Egypt, where he served as the assistant military attache in Cairo's Syrian embassy in 1956. There, he became a supporter of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and his pan-Arabist policies. Atassi was among the Syrian officers who lobbied for unity with Egypt, which was realized in February 1958 with the formation of the United Arab Republic (UAR).[2]
Atassi criticized Syria's secession from the union in September 1961 after a military coup in 1961.[2] In April 1962 unionist officers led by Jassem Alwan staged an attempted coup against the government. Alwan, Hamad Ubayd and Muhammad Umran led the effort in Aleppo and Homs, while Atassi led the operation in Deir ez-Zor.[3] According to historian Sami Moubayed, Atassi attempted to mediate a truce between the coup leaders and the government, but was unable. After the coup attempt, he was sent to the Syrian embassy in Washington D.C. to serve as the military attache. The officers were imprisoned and brought to military trial, where Atassi was recalled to testify against them, but refused out of his sympathies with officers. Atassi was consequently arrested and jailed in Damascus's Mezzeh Prison.[2]
President of Syria
Atassi (center) with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (right) and Syrian Prime Minister Salah Bitar (left) during tripartite unity discussions between Egypt, Syria and Iraq in Cairo, early April 1963
On 8 March 1963, a coalition of Arab nationalist officers organized by the Military Committee of the Ba'ath Party launched a military coup, toppling the secessionist government of Nazim al-Qudsi. The officers immediately freed Atassi and appointed him to the National Council for the Revolutionary Command, the effective interim government of the country,[2] and made him president on 23 March. Atassi was a politically independent Arab nationalist and was made Chief-of Staff after its execution.[4] From the Committee's standpoint, Atassi was ideal for the position because he lacked a support base and thus posed no threat to the junta's supremacy. His presidential powers were limited, and in practice he served more as a figurehead leader.[5]
On 18 July Atassi led a Syrian delegation to Alexandria, Egypt, to repair Syrian government relations with Nasser after dozens of Nasserist officers were purged from their high-ranking posts between late April and early May by the Military Committee. On the same day, Nasserist officer Jassem Alwan led a coup against the Ba'athists, but failed. Many people were killed in the coup attempt and 20 participating officers were executed by Ba'athist-dominated government. Disapproving of the manner in which the coup officers were dealt with, Atassi resigned on 27 July.[6] Thereafter, he retired from all political activity.[5]
Later life and death
Atassi lived the remainder of his life in Homs, until his death in November 2003.[5]
References
^"زي النهاردة.. وفاة الرئيس السوري الأسبق لؤي الأتاسي 24 نوفمبر 2003 | المصري اليوم".
Moubayed, Sami (2006). Steel & Silk: Men and Women Who Shaped Syria 1900-2000. Seattle: Cune Press.
Rabinovich, Itamar (1972). Syria Under the Baʻth, 1963-66: The Army Party Symbiosis. Transaction Publishers. ISBN0706512669.
February 05, 2023
atassi, arabic, لؤي, الأتاسي, romanized, luʾay, ʾatāsī, 1926, november, 2003, senior, commander, syrian, army, later, president, syria, between, march, july, 1963, لؤي, الأتاسيpresident, syriain, office, march, 1963, july, 1963vice, presidentmuhammad, umranpre. Lu ay al Atassi Arabic لؤي الأتاسي romanized Luʾay al ʾAtasi 1926 24 November 2003 1 was a senior commander in the Syrian Army and later the President of Syria between 9 March and 27 July 1963 Lu ay al Atassiلؤي الأتاسيPresident of SyriaIn office 9 March 1963 27 July 1963Vice PresidentMuhammad UmranPreceded byNazim al KudsiSucceeded byAmin al HafizPersonal detailsBorn1926Homs SyriaDied24 November 2003 2003 11 24 aged 76 77 Homs SyriaMilitary serviceAllegianceSyriaRankLieutenant GeneralBattles wars1948 Arab Israeli War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 President of Syria 3 Later life and death 4 References 5 BibliographyEarly life and career EditAtassi was born in Homs in 1926 to the politically prominent al Atassi clan He entered the officer corps after graduating from the Homs Military Academy in the mid 1940s and fought during the 1948 Arab Israeli War in Palestine In 1954 President Hashim al Atassi appointed him Chief of Military Protocol He was transferred to Egypt where he served as the assistant military attache in Cairo s Syrian embassy in 1956 There he became a supporter of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and his pan Arabist policies Atassi was among the Syrian officers who lobbied for unity with Egypt which was realized in February 1958 with the formation of the United Arab Republic UAR 2 Atassi criticized Syria s secession from the union in September 1961 after a military coup in 1961 2 In April 1962 unionist officers led by Jassem Alwan staged an attempted coup against the government Alwan Hamad Ubayd and Muhammad Umran led the effort in Aleppo and Homs while Atassi led the operation in Deir ez Zor 3 According to historian Sami Moubayed Atassi attempted to mediate a truce between the coup leaders and the government but was unable After the coup attempt he was sent to the Syrian embassy in Washington D C to serve as the military attache The officers were imprisoned and brought to military trial where Atassi was recalled to testify against them but refused out of his sympathies with officers Atassi was consequently arrested and jailed in Damascus s Mezzeh Prison 2 President of Syria Edit Atassi center with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser right and Syrian Prime Minister Salah Bitar left during tripartite unity discussions between Egypt Syria and Iraq in Cairo early April 1963 On 8 March 1963 a coalition of Arab nationalist officers organized by the Military Committee of the Ba ath Party launched a military coup toppling the secessionist government of Nazim al Qudsi The officers immediately freed Atassi and appointed him to the National Council for the Revolutionary Command the effective interim government of the country 2 and made him president on 23 March Atassi was a politically independent Arab nationalist and was made Chief of Staff after its execution 4 From the Committee s standpoint Atassi was ideal for the position because he lacked a support base and thus posed no threat to the junta s supremacy His presidential powers were limited and in practice he served more as a figurehead leader 5 On 18 July Atassi led a Syrian delegation to Alexandria Egypt to repair Syrian government relations with Nasser after dozens of Nasserist officers were purged from their high ranking posts between late April and early May by the Military Committee On the same day Nasserist officer Jassem Alwan led a coup against the Ba athists but failed Many people were killed in the coup attempt and 20 participating officers were executed by Ba athist dominated government Disapproving of the manner in which the coup officers were dealt with Atassi resigned on 27 July 6 Thereafter he retired from all political activity 5 Later life and death EditAtassi lived the remainder of his life in Homs until his death in November 2003 5 References Edit زي النهاردة وفاة الرئيس السوري الأسبق لؤي الأتاسي 24 نوفمبر 2003 المصري اليوم a b c d Moubayed 2006 p 174 Rabinovich 1972 p 34 Rabinovich 1972 p 52 a b c Moubayed 2006 p 175 Rabinovich 1972 pp 70 72 Bibliography EditMoubayed Sami 2006 Steel amp Silk Men and Women Who Shaped Syria 1900 2000 Seattle Cune Press Rabinovich Itamar 1972 Syria Under the Baʻth 1963 66 The Army Party Symbiosis Transaction Publishers ISBN 0706512669 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lu 27ay al Atassi amp oldid 1095326797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
