Image Source:
Syrianhistory.com Archive
Antune Saadeh, founder of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) was given asylum in Syria by President Husni al-Zaim in the summer of 1949. He worked with the Syrian leader on toppling the government of President Beshara al-Khoury and Prime Minister Riad al-Sulh. Saadeh was given assurances that Syria would never hand him to the Lebanese but Zaim backed out on his promise and did, where he was promptly tried and executed in haste, on July 8, 1949. In revenge, the SSNP played a crucial role in toppling and executing Zaim a few weeks later, on August 14, 1949.