Syria Establishes National Security Council to Address Political and Security Challenges
The establishment of this security body comes as Damascus works to consolidate national authority, disband armed factions, and begin the process of rebuilding state institutions
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian authorities announced on Wednesday the establishment of a National Security Council, a new body that will be responsible for overseeing and managing security and political policies in the country.
The council will be chaired by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, according to a decree published by the Syrian presidency via the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
The formation of this council marks a significant structural shift in Syria’s security framework, as no such entity existed under the previous rule of Bashar al-Assad.
A New Approach to National Security
The decree emphasized that the National Security Council was created to enhance Syria’s security capabilities and respond to evolving political and security challenges. The council will include key government figures, such as the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, and the interior, as well as the head of the national intelligence agency.
Additionally, two advisory members and a technical expert will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa.
Meetings will be held regularly, with additional sessions convened whenever deemed necessary by the interim president. According to the decree, decisions related to national security will be made in consultation with council members.
A Crucial Step in Syria’s Post-War Transition
The establishment of this security body comes as Damascus works to consolidate national authority, disband armed factions, and begin the process of rebuilding state institutions after more than 13 years of conflict.
However, this transition has been complicated by recent violence, particularly in coastal regions, where sectarian killings escalated following clashes between security forces and pro-Assad gunmen.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that nearly 1,400 civilians—many of them Alawites, the sect to which Assad belonged—have been killed by security forces and allied factions.
More than 40 massacres have been documented, with observers noting that the Syrian National Army (SNA)—recently integrated into the Syrian Ministry of Defense—played a significant role in escalating sectarian violence.
Meanwhile, Damascus declared on Monday that the military operation targeting Assad loyalists has officially ended.
Sharaa’s Pledge to Protect Syria’s Minorities
The decision to establish the National Security Council also aligns with President Sharaa’s commitment to protect Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, a promise he made following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Sharaa, whose Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist faction emerged from the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, has sought to reassure Syria’s diverse communities that the new government will uphold their rights and security.
