Similarly, Hinnawi's rule did not last much longer, and his lofty ambitions of uniting Syria with Hashemite Iraq - dubbed the "Fertile Crescent" plan - ultimately triggered his downfall.

The Syrian army's defeat in the war heavily tarnished its image, and subsequent armistice negotiations with Israel left it demoralized and rebellious.

[5] According to available sources, local CIA agents and military attaché stationed in Syria acted independently to encourage Colonel Zaim to overthrow President Quwatli, without the formal approval or direct involvement of the US State Department.

Other significant actions of his include signing an armistice with Israel, dropping claims over the Turkish-held Sanjak of Alexandretta (modern day Hatay Province), launching domestic anti-Communist campaigns, and being openly willing to resettle Palestinians in Syria.

[7] In terms of foreign policy, President Zaim improved ties with France in order to secure military assistance and maintained close relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, seeking to counter Hashemite ambitions in neighbouring Iraq and Jordan.

This not only inflamed local tensions but also solidified opposition within the military, including Colonel Sami Hinnawi, commander of the First Brigade, who saw Zaim's campaign as reckless and pointlessly destabilizing.

[8] On August 14, a group of dissident military officers led by Colonel Sami al-Hinnawi, who had previously supported President Zaim's rise to power in March 1949, executed a coup d'état.

Despite the electoral win though, the parliamentary majority held by the People's Party was still not enough to achieve the political ambitions of President Hinnawi, which was union with Hashemite Iraq - dubbed the Fertile Crescent plan.

[12][15] In early December 1949, President Hinnawi publicly endorsed the idea of a political union with Hashemite Iraq, making it official government policy.

With Colonel Shishakli's rise to power, any hope of realizing the Fertile Crescent scheme and uniting with Iraq were swiftly crushed, as he firmly pledged to preserving Syrian independence.