The Syrian Presidency announced on Thursday: "The ministry of foreign affairs... has returned to the French republic... the decoration of the Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur awarded to President Assad” , noting that the medal was returned to Paris through the Romanian Embassy representing French interests in the country.
According to the office of President Assad, the decision to return the French state’s highest honor was made over the "participation of France in the tripartite aggression" against Syria on April 14. Following the US-led strikes, which also involved British air power, president Assad found it unacceptable to wear an award issued by a “slave country and follower of the United States” that supports terrorists and violates the “most elementary norms and principles of International law."
President Assad was made a knight of the Legion of Honour back in 2001, when he met former French president Jacques Chirac.
