Overview
The flag of Syria is a horizontal tricolour featuring red, white and black bands with two green five-pointed stars centered in the white stripe. It is one of the modern flags that use the Pan-Arab colours and serves as the national banner of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Design and characteristics
Visually the flag is arranged as three equal horizontal bands: red on top, white in the middle and black at the bottom, with two green stars placed horizontally in the centre of the white band. The colours are derived from the Pan-Arab palette and the stars are simple five-pointed shapes. The flag is commonly produced in fabric for civic, government and military use and appears at public buildings and diplomatic missions.
Symbolism
The red, white and black fields reflect the Pan-Arab colours associated with Arab unity and modern nationalist movements. Red often denotes sacrifice or struggle, white is associated with a bright future or peace, and black recalls historical eras and resistance. The two green stars historically symbolized the two constituent states of the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria) during their political union.
History and development
A version of this tricolour was used during the union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961 and the same basic design was officially readopted by Syria in 1980. Over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries Syria has used several different flags reflecting changes in government, ideology and regional alignments. Alternative flags, such as the earlier ‘‘independence’’ tricolour with different star arrangements, have reappeared in political contexts.
Variants, usage and notable facts
- Variants of the Syrian flag have been used by different governments and political movements; some opposition groups use an older independence-era tricolour as a symbol.
- Flags based on Pan-Arab colours are common across the Arab world and share thematic links to Arab history and unity.
- Official protocol for flying the flag follows standard practice for national flags: prominent display on public buildings, careful handling and respectful treatment.