On 8 November 1943, and after electing president Bechara el Khoury and appointing prime minister Riad al-Solh, the Chamber of Deputies amended the Lebanese Constitution, which abolished the articles referring to the Mandate and modified the specified powers of the High Commissioner, thus unilaterally ending the Mandate. The French responded by arresting the President, the Prime Minister, and other cabinet members, and exiling them to an old citadel located in Rashaya. This leads to international pressure to make Lebanon independent.

Finally, France yielded to the augmenting pressure of the Lebanese people, as well as the demand of numerous countries, and released the prisoners from Rashaya on the morning of Monday 22 November 1943. Since then, this day has been celebrated as Lebanese Independence Day.

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