Jolani calls for lifting sanctions, vows 'social justice', says rebels will join army

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, said Monday that international sanctions against Damascus must be lifted if refugees displaced by the war are to return.

During a meeting with a British delegation, Jolani spoke "of the importance of restoring relations" with London, and stressed "the importance of ending all sanctions imposed on Syria so that displaced Syrians... can return to their country", according to remarks reported on his group's Telegram channel.

Al-Jolani said that a "social contract" between the state and all religions in the country was needed to ensure "social justice".

"Syria must remain united, and there must be a social contract between the state and all religions to guarantee social justice," said Jolani, who now goes by his real name Ahmad al-Sharaa, on Telegram.

Al-Jolani said rebel factions in the war-torn country would be disbanded and their fighters would join regular army units.

"The factions will be disbanded and the fighters trained to join the ranks of the defense ministry, and all will be subject to the law."