Jamil Mardam Bey
In July 1925, the chieftain, Sultan al-Atrash, launched an armed uprising against the French that started in Jabal Druze in southeast Syria. By August, the People's Party had decided to join forces with the Druze rebels and pushed for a march on Damascus. The French intercepted the rebels a few miles outside of Damascus and ordered the arrest of all nationalists. Jamil Mardam Bey went with Shabandar and a few other nationalist leaders to take refuge in Jabal Druze Sultan Atrash and the People's Party set up a provisional government on September 9 in Jabal Druze. By October 1925, large parts of Syria were in full revolt.