how prevalent is french in syria?

France used to occupy Syria under a League of Nations mandate so many of the older Syrians may still use the language, but the use of English when two people from different countries are speaking together is the usual way to communicate the world over. More people today know English than French (though for centuries it was the other way around and all diplomats and the upper classes spoke French). So the French and Norwegian girls would use English together as would the French girl and the gap-toothed Syrian bounder.