Syrian Air Force

The Syrian Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It has been a key instrument of the Syrian government, particularly during the ongoing Syrian Civil War. The organization is in the news due to allegations of crimes against humanity. Recently, a former colonel in the Syrian Air Force intelligence department, Salem Michel Al-Salem, appeared before a London court charged with crimes against humanity. This event highlights the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for alleged atrocities committed during the Syrian conflict. The death of Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of the current Syrian president and commander of forces involved in the 1982 Hama massacre, also indirectly brings the Syrian military's past actions into renewed focus, underscoring the legacy of violence associated with the Assad regime and its security apparatus, including the Air Force.