title: 1981 in Syria
text: # 1981 in Syria
  
  The following lists events that happened during 1981 in Syria.
  
  ## Incumbents
  
  * President: Hafez al-Assad
  * Prime Minister: Abdul Rauf al-Kasm (starting 9 January 1980)
  
  ## Events
  
  ### March
  
  * March 15 - Three hijackers holding hostages aboard a Pakistani jetliner surrendered to Syrian authorities, ending a 13-day ordeal.
  
  ### April
  
  * Hama massacre
  
  ### May
  
  * May 18 - Syrian missal crisis begins as Syria moves Soviet-made missiles into East Lebanon's Bekaa valley.
  
  ### November
  
  * November 29 - Azbakiyah bombing
  
  ### Undated
  
  * Ali Duba is promoted to Syrian military general.
  
  ## Births
  
  * August 10 - Shadi Hamsho, professional boxer
  * September 20 - Shady Othman, Arab-European actor
  * November 10 - Saad al Ghefari, actor
  * Undated
     * Hiba Al-Akkad, artist born in Damascus, Syria
     * Diana al-Hadid, contemporary artist
     * Nagham Hodaifa - Syrian artist
  