20 Facts About Yasin al-Hashimi

Yasin al-Hashimi made his political debut under the government of his predecessor, Jafar al-Askari, and replaced him as prime minister shortly after, in August 1924.

Unlike al-Askari, who was then his minister of defense, Yasin al-Hashimi survived the coup and made his way to Beirut, Lebanon, where he died three months later.

Yasin al-Hashimi enrolled into the Ottoman Military Academy of Istanbul and graduated in 1902.

Yasin al-Hashimi performed well at the academy and was recognized for his military skills.

Yasin al-Hashimi was loyal to the Ottomans throughout World War I, during which the Ottomans were part of the Central Powers alliance.

Yasin al-Hashimi was recognized for his successes against the Russians during that campaign, including by German Emperor Wilhelm II, and subsequently promoted to major general.

In 1918 Yasin al-Hashimi was assigned as the commander of the Ottoman Fourth Army garrison in Tulkarm.

Yasin al-Hashimi was wounded during these battles and sent to Damascus to recover.

Yasin al-Hashimi attempted to resume his service in the Ottoman Army, but was refused because he did not apply for readmission within a year of the armistice.

Yasin al-Hashimi was given the additional office of Secretary of Military Affairs and was charged with the recruitment of volunteers into the newly formed Arab Army to counter potential challenges by the French, who sought to rule Syria.

Yasin al-Hashimi became the clear leader of the ardent Arab nationalist camp and was accused by the British of coordinating with Turkish General Mustafa Kemal on ending European control in Syria in pursuit of personal power.

In late November 1919, Yasin al-Hashimi was arrested by the British military for recruiting soldiers to resist the French in the Beqaa Valley, suspicions that he was in contact with Mustafa Kemal, who was fighting the French in Turkey, and for leading an anti-British propaganda campaign in Iraq.

Yasin al-Hashimi's arrest precipitated a crisis in Faisal's government and provoked protests and riots in Damascus.

The British authorities informed Faisal that they arrested Yasin al-Hashimi for attempting to create a republic and overthrow Faisal and his government; Yasin al-Hashimi had grown powerful and had wielded more influence over the army than Faisal.

Yasin al-Hashimi refused an assignment by Faisal to command the Arab Army's post at Majdal Anjar in the Beqaa Valley and turned down a request to resume his position as chief-of-staff due to the precarious position of the army.

In March 1922, Yasin al-Hashimi arrived in Baghdad, where Faisal had been relocated and assumed power as King of Iraq.

Yasin al-Hashimi was posted at the capital of the province, an-Nasiriyah.

Yasin al-Hashimi believed that tribal revolts in some of the country's provinces were being coordinated with his political opponents, and used General Sidqi to harshly put them down.

King Ghazi had likely been informed of the impending coup d'etat against Yasin al-Hashimi and lent his quiet support by forbidding any resistance against the army.

Yasin al-Hashimi did not dismiss al-Hashimi until the latter submitted his resignation following air force bombardment in the vicinity of his office.