The Syrian transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, issued a decision to form the National Security Council in Syria.

According to the text of the decision issued by the Syrian Presidency late on Wednesday, March 12, it states that based on the powers granted to the Syrian president and in light of the supreme national interest, and with the aim of enhancing national security and responding to the security and political challenges ahead, the council is formed to coordinate and manage security and political policies.

The council is composed of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, the Director of General Intelligence, and the Minister of Interior.

It also includes two advisory seats to be appointed by the president based on competence and experience, in addition to a specialized technical seat to be appointed by the president to monitor relevant technical and scientific affairs related to the minutes of the sessions.

The National Security Council meetings are held periodically or at the invitation of the president, and it makes decisions related to national security and the challenges facing the state in consultation with its members.

The tasks of the National Security Council and its operational mechanisms are determined by the directives of the president, in line with the supreme national interest, and ensuring effective coordination among various security agencies.

The decision came into effect upon its issuance and is communicated to the relevant authorities for implementation.

This step comes days after the security disturbances that the coastal cities witnessed due to the targeting of security forces by remnants of the Assad regime in the countryside of Latakia, in addition to the targeting of security points and vital civilian installations, including hospitals, and their siege.

For its part, the new Syrian administration responded by launching a security and military campaign against the remnants of the previous regime on March 6, which continued until the 10th of the same month, conducted in two phases: the first in the cities and the second in the countryside and mountains.

At that time, the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Colonel Hassan Abdel Ghani, stated, “In fulfillment of the pledge we made to our people with the commencement of the second phase of operations, we announce the success of our forces in achieving all the objectives set for this phase.”

In its report issued on March 11, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented the deaths of at least 803 individuals, including 39 children and 49 women (adult females), during the events in the coast.

The report recorded the deaths of at least 172 members of the security and military forces (internal security and the Ministry of Defense) at the hands of armed groups associated with the ousted Assad regime, in addition to the deaths of at least 211 civilians, including one humanitarian worker, due to direct gunfire carried out by these groups.

The network also documented the deaths of at least 420 individuals from civilians and unarmed militants, including 39 children, 49 women, and 27 medical personnel, at the hands of armed forces participating in the military operations (factions and unregulated groups that nominally follow the Ministry of Defense) during the security campaign.