Coat of arms of Syria

The current coat of arms of Syria or coat of arms of the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: شعار الجمهورية العربية السورية) was adopted in 1980, following the 1977 dissolution of the Federation of Arab Republics, whose coat of arms had until then been used by its constituent states. This emblem consist of the Hawk of Quraish supporting a shield bearing the national flag of Syria (in vertical form), and a scroll of the words "Syrian Arab Republic" (Arabic: الجمهورية العربية السورية). Since the start of the ongoing Syrian Civil War in March 2011, alternative coats of arms have been created by the Syrian opposition and the Federation of Northern Syria.