The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that France's most prestigious award has been returned via the Romanian Embassy in Damascus, which represents the Western European country's interests in Syria.
The ministry said the decision was made after France participated in the April 14 attack on government targets in Syria alongside the US and Britain, adding that Syria is not honored to hold a medal from a country that follows the orders of the US.
"It is no honor for President Assad to wear a decoration attributed by a slave country and follower of the United States that supports terrorists," the statement said.