Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) group that toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, said Monday that opposition forces 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,” Jolani, who now uses his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, said on Telegram.
Al-Jolani met with several international figures and delegations. Earlier on Monday, UN special envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen said he met with al-Jolani and told him that the country must have a “credible and inclusive” transition.
Later that day, al-Jolani said during a meeting with a British delegation that international sanctions against Damascus must be lifted if refugees displaced by the war are to return.
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.
