Syria's interim president creates national security council

Syria's new leaders on Wednesday announced that they will create a national security council.

The decree was issued by the country's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who will chair the body.

What is the council tasked with?

The council will make decisions on challenges facing the state, including "coordinating and managing security and political policies," the Syrian president's office said on Telegram.

The ministers for foreign affairs, defense, the interior, and the head of Syria's intelligence agency will also be members of the council.

Two "advisory" members and a technical expert appointed by Sharaa will also be a part of the body, the decree said.

Deadly violence

The decision comes as al-Sharaa's forces battle an uprising carried out by loyalists of ousted leader Bashar Assad.

Since last week, there have been a series of executions, mostly of members of the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs, after pro-Assad gunmen attacked security forces.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces or allied groups kills about 1,400 civilians were killed.

On Monday, Syrian authorities said the  operation against Assad supporters had ended.

It was the worst violence Syria has witnessed since a lightning rebel offensive by Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group toppled the Assad regime in December, putting an end to 13 years of war.

Edited by: Sean Sinico