three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band
the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt
the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band