Syria's al-Sharaa establishes National Security Council he will chair
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The National Security Council will be chaired by transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and is set to include numerous government officials and ministers.
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Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkiye, February 4, 2025. (AP)
The Syrian transitional president announced on Wednesday the formation of a National Security Council, tasked with coordinating and managing security and political policies, the official SANA news agency reported.
The decision, issued in line with the president’s constitutional powers and in response to national security challenges, aims to enhance security coordination and address future political and security developments.
According to the decree, the National Security Council will be chaired by the President of the Republic and will include the following members:
- Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Minister of Defense
- Director of General Intelligence
- Minister of Interior
- Two advisory members appointed by the president based on expertise and competence
- One technical specialist appointed by the president to oversee technological and scientific matters related to security affairs
The council will convene regularly or upon the president's request to discuss national security challenges and make necessary decisions in consultation with its members.
The council’s responsibilities and operational framework will be determined by presidential directives to ensure effective coordination between state institutions and security agencies, aligning with the country’s supreme national interests.
The decree takes effect immediately upon issuance and has been communicated to relevant authorities for implementation.
Governmental upheaval
This comes as part of many policies undertaken by the Syrian government under transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who announced earlier in the month the establishment of a committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration to guide the country’s transition following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement, the presidency confirmed "the formation of a committee of experts," including one woman, to draft "the constitutional declaration that regulates the transitional phase" in Syria. The seven-member committee will "submit its proposals to the president," though no specific timeframe was provided.
Al-Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a central role in al-Assad’s overthrow on December 8, was appointed interim president in late January for an unspecified duration.
Syria’s new authorities have revoked the Assad-era constitution, with al-Sharaa indicating that the process of drafting a new one could take up to three years. In January, he pledged to introduce a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" during the transition.
The presidency stated that the announcement was made "based on the Syrian people's aspirations in building their state based on the rule of law, and building on the outcomes of the Syrian national dialogue conference." It also emphasized the need for a legal framework to regulate the transitional phase.
