Mustafa Bakour

Mustafa Hussein Bakour is a Syrian military officer currently serving as Chief of Staff of the Syrian Air Force following the fall of the Assad regime. During the Syrian civil war, he had previously served as deputy commander-in-chief and spokesman of Jaysh al-Izza.

Education and early career He was born in Kafr Zita, Hama, in 1964. He obtained a high school diploma in the scientific branch of a local school in 1984. He joined the Air Force Academy and graduated in 1987 with the rank of pilot lieutenant after successfully completing the training program on an Aero L-39 Albatros.

Similarly to other Syrian pilots, Bakour moved across various Syrian airports and completed courses on various combat aircraft, such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 and the Sukhoi Su-17, before settling on the Sukhoi SU 22-M4 at Tiyas Air Base for 21 years. During that time period, he reached the level of a day and nighttime flight instructor and test pilot. and commanded a squadron of fighter warplanes.

Role during the Syrian civil war In 2012, following the start of the Syrian revolution, he defected from the Assad regime and joined the Syrian opposition. He fought alongside opposition factions in northwestern Syria, and joined Jaysh al-Izza in 2016.

During the Syrian civil war, his house was destroyed and his family was displaced, with his son Muhammad being killed in battle and his son Hussein being severely injured.

Post-Assad On 14 March 2025, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Syrian Air Force, holding the rank of brigadier general.