In and near the city of Latakia (Syria) I saw three flags of red and yellow I could not identify:
the one simply horizontal red over yellow;
the second divided horizontally and vertically, with the upper hoist quarter and the lower fly quarter red, the other two quarters yellow;
the third one a yellow Scandinavian cross on red, just like Scania
I suspect, these flags could be some symbol for the Islamic confession (or sect) of Alawites that are living mainly in this Northwestern part of Syria. In spite of being a minority they are very influential, as the Syrian President Hafez al-Assad is an Alawite.
Marcus Schmöger, 9 May 1997
I want to tell that flags you suspected as some symbol for the Alawites, they relate to a sport club in Lattakia called "teshreen" the name of October.