[1] The same officer, Nahlawi, was in charge of the coup that brought about the disintegration of the United Arab Republic, a federation of Egypt and Syria, exactly six months earlier.

The escalation of tensions between Nahlawi and Nazim al-Qudsi, the Republic's then-President, who assumed office in December, was one of the coup's primary drivers.

The socialist policies Abdel Nasser approved two months prior to the secession are among them, as the military just sought to amend them but the political class preferred to entirely revoke them.

He also asked for the removal of Said al-Ghazzi, Maamun al-Kuzbari, and Khalid al-Azm from the political scene, the lifting of some MPs' immunity, and a reduction in the Constituent Assembly's tenure from 18 months to just six.

Al-Nahlawi anticipated being honored and promoted to a senior position because he thought the politicians should give him credit for what they were able to enjoy in the separatist republic.