In a significant move to address the country's escalating security challenges, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on Wednesday establishing a National Security Council. The newly formed body, to be chaired by al-Sharaa himself, will play a pivotal role in shaping Syria's security and political policies.

The council's primary task will be to address critical issues facing the state, including the coordination and management of security and political strategies, according to a statement released by the Syrian president's office on Telegram. Key members of the council will include the ministers of foreign affairs, defense, and interior, as well as the head of Syria's intelligence agency. Additionally, the council will include two advisory members and a technical expert appointed by al-Sharaa.

The creation of the council comes amid a surge in deadly violence across the country. Al-Sharaa's forces are currently engaged in a fierce battle against loyalists of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, whose regime was toppled in December following a lightning offensive by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group. The offensive ended 13 years of war but has since been followed by a wave of retaliatory violence.

Last week, pro-Assad gunmen launched attacks on security forces, prompting a series of executions, primarily targeting members of the Alawite minority, to which Assad belongs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that approximately 1,400 civilians have been killed by security forces or allied groups in recent clashes.

On Monday, Syrian authorities declared that the operation against Assad supporters had concluded. However, the violence has left the country reeling, marking the worst bloodshed since the fall of the Assad regime.

In a statement, President al-Sharaa vowed accountability for the deadly clashes, emphasizing the need for stability and justice. "The National Security Council will ensure that those responsible for the violence are held accountable," he said. "Our priority is to restore peace and security for all Syrians."

The establishment of the council underscores the interim government's efforts to consolidate power and address the complex security landscape in post-war Syria. However, with deep-seated divisions and ongoing violence, the path to stability remains fraught with challenges.

As the council begins its work, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the crisis that has plagued Syria for over a decade.