Formed by the Reds in October 1918, the Democratic Republic of Arabia was a weak union of Bedouin tribes, based in Damascus. Although the Soviets spent thousands of Rubles on helping the DRA Army, it was never able to form a regular, loyal army. Instead, the weak Communist government in Damascus relied on non-loyal tribes, that were united with the help of Russian Rubles. In the Communist state, following Soviet tradition, religion was forbidden, which caused anger among most of its inhabitants. Most tribal chieftains were recruited to the cause of the Big 5 Powers only with the help of money. The state was destroyed in 1920 after a British victory in Damascus. The Chairman of the Presidium, Ali A. al-Sharyia was killed by the British troops in 1921.