Al-Bitar formed a band of armed volunteers in 1919 to resist French military forces who were landing on the Syrian coast.[1] Al-Bitar eventually joined the Hananu Revolt and was assigned responsibility over Jabal Sahyun, a mountainous region whose center was al-Haffah.[1] He also coordinated military action with Saleh al-Ali who was leading the Alawite Revolt against the French in the mountains south of Jabal Sahyun.