Umar al-Bitar

Umar al-Bitar (Arabic: عمر البيطار) (1886–1946) was a Syrian rebel leader who led a revolt against French military forces in his native Latakia region in 1920.

[2] Al-Bitar formed a band of armed volunteers in 1919 to resist French military forces who were landing on the Syrian coast.

[2] Al-Bitar eventually joined the Hananu Revolt and was assigned responsibility over Jabal Sahyun, a mountainous region whose center was al-Haffah.

[1] He also coordinated military action with Saleh al-Ali who was leading the Alawite Revolt against the French in the mountains south of Jabal Sahyun.

Upon his return, al-Bitar joined the National Bloc, the largest political party in Syria opposed to French rule.