Syria establishes National Security Council to strengthen stability

Thursday 13 March 2025 - 09:32

By: Zahouani Ilham

Syria establishes National Security Council to strengthen stability

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced the creation of a National Security Council aimed at enhancing the country’s security and political coordination. This new body will oversee the management of security policies and will be chaired by Sharaa. It is a significant move as no such council existed during the rule of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

The formation of this council is part of a broader effort by the current authorities to reassert control over the country, dismantle armed factions, and rebuild after more than 13 years of civil war. However, the process has been complicated by a recent wave of executions, primarily targeting members of the Alawite minority, following attacks on security forces by pro-Assad gunmen.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, nearly 1,400 civilians have been killed by government forces or allied groups. The authorities announced that the operation targeting Assad loyalists had concluded by Monday.

Sharaa, who leads the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), linked to Al-Qaeda, has pledged to safeguard Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. This commitment was made after rebel forces, led by HTS, overthrew Assad’s regime in early December.

The decree creating the council states that it will tackle security and political challenges in the upcoming phase. The council will consist of key ministers from foreign affairs, defense, the interior, and the head of the country’s intelligence services, along with two advisory members and a technical expert chosen by Sharaa. Meetings of the council will be held periodically or as the president deems necessary, with decisions made in consultation with its members to address national security concerns and state challenges.