The contemporary relationship largely dates back to the French mandate (1923–1946) over Syria established in the midst of the defeat and subsequent Partition of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.

[3] France has since then issued arrest warrants and prosecuted senior officials of the Syrian government, accused of abetting "crimes against humanity" and various war-crimes of the Assad regime.

[4] In May 2023, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna publicly called for the prosecution of Bashar al-Assad, labelling him as "the enemy of his own people".

The French immediately dissolved the local Arab governments in the region, with France demanding full implementation of the Sykes–Picot Agreement, with Syria under its control.

Calling upon unification of all Syrian sects, ethnic communities and religions against French rule, he managed to enlist the aid of large sections of the population in the nationwide revolt which was led by many notable figures from all around Syria such as Hassan al-Kharrat, Nasib al-Bakri, Fawzi al-Qawuqji and Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar.

France sent thousands of troops to Syria and Lebanon from its African colonies, equipped with modern weapons, compared to the meager supplies of the rebels.

[17] In August 2013, when the Syrian government was accused of using chemical weapons in the Ghouta area near Damascus, Paris called for military intervention[18] but was isolated after the US president, Barack Obama, refused to act.

[21][22] Also mid November, France drafted a UN Security Council resolution[23] urging UN members to "take all necessary measures" in the fight against Islamic State and al-Nusra Front.

[24] Also on 20 November, France dismissed Russia's suggestions that the French air strikes against oil installations in Syria were illegal, saying they were "an appropriate and necessary riposte" to attacks by Islamic State.

[25] On 14 April 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that France's "red line has been crossed", in reference to the previous attacks on Douma.

In November 2018, France issued international arrest warrants for three high-ranking Ba'athist security officers over torturing and killing French-Syrian citizens.

The dreams of patients at the French diplomacy to restore the inheritences of colonial era and domination on peoples are no longer valid for today's world which produces new values based on multipolar system, the rejection of immoral and inhumane economic sanctions, respect for the sovereignty and independence of states and equality among them.

"Following the fall of the al-Assad regime and formation of a Syrian transitional government, France raised its flag on the French embassy in Damascus for the first time in 12 years.

[38] On December 31, 2024, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that France committed airstrikes targeting ISIS bases in Syria during the weekend before.

[41] On January 21, 2025, two French investigating judges have issued an arrest warrant for former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on suspicion of involvement in war crimes.