# List of heads of state of Syria

This is a list of heads of state of Syria since 1920.

## Military administrators
### OETA South chief administrators

The area was divided into four districts: Jerusalem, Jaffa, Majdal and Beersheba, each under a military governor. Both of the first two British administrators, Generals Money and Watson, were removed by London for not favouring the Zionists over the Arabs; when the OETA administration ended, Liberal party politician (and former British Home Secretary) Herbert Samuel was installed as the first civilian administrator. Samuel recorded his acceptance of the role, and the end of military administration, in an often-quoted document: "Received from Major-General Sir Louis J. Bols K.C.B.—One Palestine, complete."
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
| 1 | | Major General Arthur Wigram Money (1866–1951) | June 1918 | June 1919 | 1 year | |
| 2 | | Major General Harry Davis Watson (1866–1945) | June 1919 | December 1919 | 6 months | |
| 3 | | Lieutenant General Louis Bols (1867–1930) | January 1920 | July 1920 | 6 months | |

### OETA East administrators

OETA East was a joint Arab-British military administration. The Arab and British armies entered Damascus on 1 October 1918, and on 3 October 1918 Ali Rida al-Rikabi was appointed Military Governor of OETA East. Prince Faisal son of King Hussain of Mecca entered Damascus as on 4 October and appointed Rikabi Chief of the Council of Directors (i.e. prime minister) of Syria.
The boundary definition of OETA East left uncertainties to the south and east, leading to competing claims from the Kingdom of Hejaz and Occupied Iraq respectively – see Occupation of Ma'an and Occupation of Zor for further details.
* Rida al-Rikabi (3 October 1918 – 26 November 1919)

### OETA North (West) administrators

* Marie Antoine de Piépape (7 October 1918 – 19 November 1918)
* Jules Camille Hamelin (19 November 1918 – 21 November 1919)
* François Georges Barb (21 November 1919 – 1 September 1920)

### OETA North (Cilicia) administrators

* Édouard Brémond

## High Commissioners of France in the Levant

* Syria or French Syria (1920–1946) (French Mandate of Syria)
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Notes |
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Notes |
| | Henri Gouraud | 9 October 1919 | 23 November 1922 | 3 years, 45 days | |
| | Robert de Caix | 23 November 1922 | 19 April 1923 | 147 days | Acting |
| | Maxime Weygand | 19 April 1923 | 29 November 1924 | 1 year, 224 days | |
| | Maurice Sarrail | 29 November 1924 | 23 December 1925 | 1 year, 24 days | |
| | Henry de Jouvenel | 23 December 1925 | 23 June 1926 | 182 days | |
| | Henri Ponsot | August 1926 | 13 July 1933 | 6 years, 11 months | |
| | Damien de Martel | 16 July 1933 | January 1939 | 5 years, 5 months | |
| | Gabriel Puaux | January 1939 | November 1940 | 1 year, 10 months | |
| | Jean Chiappe | 24 November 1940 | 27 November 1940 | 3 days | Died on flight to take office. |
| | Henri Dentz | 6 December 1940 | 14 July 1941 | 220 days | Dentz was repatriated to Metropolitan France following the Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre. |

## General Delegates of Free France in the Levant

| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Notes |
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Notes |
| | Georges Catroux | 24 June 1941 | 7 June 1943 | 1 year, 348 days | Catroux was also Chief of Free French Forces in Levant states. |
| | Jean Helleu | 7 June 1943 | 23 November 1943 | 169 days | |
| | Yves Chataigneau | 23 November 1943 | 23 January 1944 | 61 days | |
| | Paul Beynet | 23 January 1944 | 1 September 1946 | 2 years, 221 days | |

## Governors of Jabal Druze State

* Amir Salim Pasha al-Atrash (1 May 1921 – 15 September 1923)
* Trenga (provisional) (September 1923 – 6 March 1924)
* Gabriel Marie Victor Carbillet (6 March 1924 – 14 October 1925), provisional to 1 October 1924
* Sultan Pasha al-Atrash (18 July 1925 – 1 June 1927), chief of state; in dissidence
* Charles Andréa (15 October 1925 – 1927)
* Marie Joseph Léon Augustin Henry (1927)
* Abel Jean Ernest Clément-Grancourt (1927–1932)
* Claude-Gabriel-Renaud Massiet (3 February 1932 – 28 January 1934)
* Justin-Antoine Devicq (1934–1935)
* Pierre-Joseph-François Tarrit (1935 – 2 December 1936)

## Governors of Hatay State

Hatay State (Turkish: Hatay Devleti; French: État du Hatay; Arabic: دولة حطاي, romanized: Dawlat Ḥaṭāy), also known informally as the Republic of Hatay (Arabic: جمهورية حطاي, romanized: Jumhūriyyat Ḥaṭāy), was a transitional political entity that existed from 7 September 1938 to 29 June 1939, being located in the territory of the Sanjak of Alexandretta of the French Mandate of Syria. The state was transformed de facto into the Hatay Province of Turkey on 7 July 1939, de jure joining the country on 23 July 1939.

## Governors of Alawite State

The Alawite State was run by a succession of French governors from 1920 to 1936:
* 2 September 1920 – 1921: Colonel Marie Joseph Émile Niéger (b. 1874; d. 1951)
* 1921–1922: Gaston Henri Gustave Billotte (b. 1875; d. 1940)
* 1922–1925: Léon Henri Charles Cayla (b. 1881; d. 1965)
* 1925 – 5 December 1936: Ernest Marie Hubert Schoeffler (b. 1877; d. 1952)
The Sunni landowners, primarily living in the province's cities, were supporters of Syrian unity; however, the French were supported by the rural Alawite communities to whom they catered.
In 1930 the Alawite State was renamed as the Government of Latakia, the only concession by the French to Arab nationalists until 1936.

## Heads of state of Syria

| | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | Position | |
| Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1918–1920) | |
| | Muhammad Said al-Jazairi [fr] محمد سعيد الجزائري | | 17 September 1918 | 30 September 1918 | | Head of Government | |
| | Ali Rida Pasha al-Rikabi علي رضا باشا الركابي | | 30 September 1918 | 5 October 1918 | | Head of Government | |
| | Faisal I فيصل الأول | | 5 October 1918 | 8 March 1920 | | Head of Government | |
| Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | |
| | Faisal I فيصل الأول | | 8 March 1920 | 24 July 1920 (expelled) | | King | |
| | Ali Rida Pasha al-Rikabi علي رضا باشا الركابي | | 8 March 1920 | 3 May 1920 | | Prime Minister | |
| | Hashim al-Atassi هاشم الأتاسي | | 3 May 1920 | 28 July 1920 | | Prime Minister | |
| Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Federation of the Autonomous States of Syria (1920–1924) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Vice President of Syria |
| | Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi صبحي بك بركات الخالدي | | 28 June 1922 | 31 December 1924 | Independent | President | |
| State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | State of Syria (1925–1930) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | |
| | Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi صبحي بك بركات الخالدي | | 1 January 1925 | 21 December 1925 | Independent | President | |
| | François Pierre-Alype فرانسوا بيير أليب | | 9 February 1926 | 28 April 1926 | Independent | Envoy Extraordinary of the High CommissionerActing President | |
| | Ahmad Nami أحمد نامي | | 28 April 1926 | 15 February 1928 | Independent | President | |
| | Taj al-Din al-Hasani تاج الدين الحسني | | 15 February 1928 | 14 May 1930 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | Syrian Republic (1930–1936) (Part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon) | |
| | Taj al-Din al-Hasani تاج الدين الحسني | | 14 May 1930 | 19 November 1931 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Léon Solomiac ليون سولومياك | | 19 November 1931 | 11 June 1932 | Independent | High CommissionerActing President | |
| | Muhammad Ali al-Abid محمد علي العابد | | 11 June 1932 | 27 September 1936 | Independent | President | |
| Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | Syrian Republic (1936–1946) (Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence signed but not ratified) | |
| | Muhammad Ali al-Abid محمد علي العابد | | 27 September 1936 | 21 December 1936 | Independent | President | |
| | Hashim al-Atassi هاسم الأتاسي (1st time) | | 21 December 1936 | 7 July 1939 | National Bloc | President | |
| | Bahij al-Khatib بيج الخطيب | | 10 July 1939 | 4 April 1941 | Independent | President of the Council of Directors General | |
| | Khalid al-Azm خالد العظم | | 4 April 1941 | 16 September 1941 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Taj al-Din al-Hasani تاج الدين الحسني | | 16 September 1941 | 17 January 1943 (died in office) | Independent | President | |
| | Jamil al-Ulshi جميل الألشي | | 17 January 1943 | 25 March 1943 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Ata al-Ayyubi عطا الأيوبي | | 25 March 1943 | 17 August 1943 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Shukri al-Quwatli شكري القوتلي (1st time) | | 17 August 1943 | 17 April 1946 | National Bloc | President | |
| Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | |
| | Shukri al-Quwatli شكري القوتلي (1st time) | | 17 April 1946 | 30 March 1949 (deposed) | National Bloc National Party | President | |
| | Husni al-Za'im حسني الزعيم | | 30 March 1949 | 26 June 1949 | Military Syrian Social Nationalist Party | Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces | |
| | Husni al-Za'im حسني الزعيم | | 26 June 1949 | 14 August 1949 (deposed) | Military Syrian Social Nationalist Party | President | |
| | Sami al-Hinnawi سامي الحناوي | | 14 August 1949 | 15 August 1949 | Military | Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces | |
| | Hashim al-Atassi هاشم الأتاسي (2nd time) | | 15 August 1949 | 5 September 1950 | People's Party | Head of State | |
| | Hashim al-Atassi هاشم الأتاسي (2nd time) | | 5 September 1950 | 2 December 1951 | People's Party | President | |
| | Adib Shishakli أديب الشيشكلي | | 2 December 1951 | 3 December 1951 | Military Syrian Social Nationalist Party | Chairman of the General StaffPresident of the Supreme Military Council | |
| | Fawzi Selu فوزي السلو | | 3 December 1951 | 11 July 1953 | Military | Head of State | |
| | Adib Shishakli أديب الشيشكلي | | 11 July 1953 | 25 February 1954 (deposed) | Military Arab Liberation Movement | President | |
| | Maamun al-Kuzbari مأمون الكزبري | | 26 February 1954 | 28 February 1954 | Independent | Vice PresidentActing President | |
| | Hashim al-Atassi هاشم الأتاسي (3rd time) | | 28 February 1954 | 6 September 1955 | People's Party | President | |
| | Shukri al-Quwatli شكري القوتلي (2nd time) | | 6 September 1955 | 22 February 1958 | National Party | President | |
| United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | |
| | Gamal Abdel Nasser جمال عبد الناصر | | 22 February 1958 | 29 September 1961 | National Union | President | |
| Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | Syrian Arab Republic (1961–1963) | |
| | Maamun al-Kuzbari مأمون الكزبري | | 29 September 1961 | 20 November 1961 | Independent | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Izzat al-Nuss عزت النص | | 20 November 1961 | 14 December 1961 | Military | Prime MinisterActing President | |
| | Nazim al-Kudsi ناظم القدسي | | 14 December 1961 | 8 March 1963 (deposed) | People's Party | President | |
| Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | Syrian Arab Republic (1963–2024) | |
| | Luai al-Atassi لؤي الأتاسي | | 9 March 1963 | 27 July 1963 | Military Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) | Presidents of the National Council for the Revolutionary Command | |
| | Amin al-Hafiz أمين الحافظ | | 27 July 1963 | 13 May 1964 | Military Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) | Presidents of the National Council for the Revolutionary Command | |
| | Amin al-Hafiz أمين الحافظ | | 13 May 1964 | 23 February 1966 (deposed) | Military Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) | President of the Presidential Council | |
| | Nureddin al-Atassi نور الدين الأتاسي | | 25 February 1966 | 18 November 1970 (deposed) | Military Syrian Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) | Head of State | |
| | Ahmad al-Khatib أحمد الخطيب | | 18 November 1970 | 12 March 1971 | Syrian Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) | Acting Head of State | |
| | Hafez al-Assad حافظ الأسد | | 12 March 1971 | 10 June 2000 (died in office) | Military Syrian Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) (National Progressive Front) | President | |
| | Abdul Halim Khaddam عبد الحليم خدام | | 10 June 2000 | 17 July 2000 | Syrian Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) (National Progressive Front) | Vice PresidentActing President | |
| | Bashar al-Assad بشار الأسد | | 17 July 2000 | 8 December 2024 (deposed) | Syrian Ba'ath Party (Syria Region) (National Progressive Front) | President | |
| Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | Syrian Arab Republic (2024–present) | |
| | Ahmed al-Sharaa أحمد الشرع | | 8 December 2024 | 29 January 2025 | Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham | De facto Leader | |
| | Ahmed al-Sharaa أحمد الشرع | | 29 January 2025 | Incumbent | Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham | President | |