Syria wards PAF veteran who downed Israeli jet

Shiite News: Air Commodore (retd) Abdul Sattar Alvi of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been awarded the Syrian Medal of Valor for his gallantry during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

According to Arab News, an English newspaper based in the Gulf, a coalition of Arab states launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 1973 in order to take back the territories lost during the Third Arab-Israeli War in 1967.

In the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel captured Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, nearly half of Syria’s Golan Heights, and areas of the West Bank that had been administered by Jordan since 1948.

It should be noted that the 1973 war was part of the Arab-Israeli conflict, since the establishment of Israel (1948) there have been many clashes and wars over this conflict.

On April 26, 1973, Abdul Sattar Alavi, then a young flight lieutenant, shot down an Israeli Air Force Mirage while flying a MiG-21 fighter jet of the Syrian Air Force during an ongoing battle.

A statement issued by DGPR (Air Force), Pakistan Air Force’s Public Relations Department, said that Flight Lieutenant Sattar Alvi’s 32nd aerial combat demonstrated bravery and skill in defending Syrian airspace.

The incident highlighted the importance of quick response, strategic thinking and aircraft skills in air combat while the outcome of the air battle highlighted the courage of Pakistani pilots in protecting the sovereignty of a brotherly nation and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. And showed determination.

According to DGPR, Syrian Ambassador Dr. Ramiz Al-Rai, on behalf of the Syrian Arab Air Force and the Syrian government, presented Air Commodore (R) Sattar Alvi with a medal of bravery and a commemorative certificate.
This recognition by the Syrian government is a moment of pride for the entire Pakistani nation and a source of inspiration for future generations.