The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a statement condemning widespread violence in Syria's coastal region and calling on Syria's interim authorities to protect all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion,

"Strongly condemns the widespread violence taking place in the provinces of Latakia and Tartous since 6 March, in particular the massacres of civilians"

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on Wednesday to form the country's national security council, according to a statement by the Syrian president's office. The council will take decisions related to the country's national security and challenges facing the state.

Syria's state-run SANA news agency says Qatar will provide natural gas supplies to Syria with the aim of generating 400 megawatts of electricity a day, in a measure to help address the war-battered country’s severe electricity shortages.

Syria’s interim Minister of Electricity Omar Shaqrouq said the Qatari supplies are expected to increase the daily state-provided electricity supply from two to four hours per day.