DAMASCUS/AMMAN - Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday announced the formation of an independent national committee to investigate the recent deadly violence in the coastal region, according to a presidential decree.

The committee, composed of seven legal and military figures, has been tasked with uncovering the causes and circumstances of the March 6 incidents, investigating human rights violations against civilians, and identifying those responsible for attacks on public institutions and security personnel.

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The presidential decree emphasized that individuals found guilty of crimes or violations would be referred to the judiciary. It also mandates full cooperation from government institutions and grants the committee the authority to enlist necessary experts to complete its mission within 30 days.

The announcement comes amid reports of mass casualties and alleged extrajudicial executions in Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous, where security forces are conducting operations against suspected remnants of the former government.

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On Thursday, these remnants launched a series of attacks in Latakia, killing 16 security personnel. Government officials described the ambushes as premeditated.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll from ongoing clashes has surpassed 1,000, including 830 civilians, as per the toll updated on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Syria's neighboring countries pledged support for Syria's unity and stability, announcing the establishment of a joint operations center to combat the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

A statement from Jordan's Foreign Ministry said participants at a meeting in Amman, including representatives from Syria and its neighbors, condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed cooperation in military, security, and intelligence efforts.

A joint operations center was launched at the meeting to coordinate the operations against IS.

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Participants also voiced support for all regional and international efforts to eliminate the organization and address the threat it poses to Syria, the region, and the world, including the issue of IS detention facilities.

Foreign ministers, defense ministers, chiefs of staff, and intelligence chiefs from Jordan, Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon attended the meeting.

The group agreed to hold a second round of meetings in Türkiye next month to build on the Amman discussions and make further decisions.