Evacuation Day around the world in 2025

Evacuation Day around the world in 2025
Flag of Syrian Arab Republic.
  How long until Evacuation Day?
Evacuation Day
  Dates of Evacuation Day around the world
2026 SyriaApr 17
Syria Fri, Apr 17National Holiday
2025 SyriaApr 17
Syria Thu, Apr 17National Holiday
2024 SyriaApr 17
Syria Wed, Apr 17National Holiday
2023 SyriaApr 17
Syria Mon, Apr 17National Holiday
2022 SyriaApr 17
Syria Sun, Apr 17National Holiday
  Summary

Commemorates the withdrawal of French troops on this day in 1946, when Syria proclaimed its independence after more than 20 years of French occupation.

When is Evacuation Day?

Evacuation Day is a public holiday in the Syrian Arab Republic on April 17th each year.

This is Syria's National Day and commemorates the evacuation of the last French soldier from Syria on this day in 1946.

History of Evacuation Day

Syria had been part of the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 16th century. 

During the first world war, the Ottoman Empire entered the conflict on the side of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Defeat for the Ottomans meant that their territories in the middle east were claimed by France and Great Britain. 

The now-infamous, but at the time, secret pact of 1916, the Sykes-Picot Agreement split the region between the two European powers, with what is now Syria coming under French control.

After the second world war, Syrian nationalists forced the French out of the country and on April 17th 1946, the last French soldiers left Syria, ending the French mandate and the independence of Syria was proclaimed.


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