Groups of Syrians roamed through the once-restricted presidential palaces of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, following his ouster from power. Citizens wandered room to room, taking photographs, and some even removed furniture and decorative items from the lavish residences.
Footage showed scenes inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, where children played in grand halls, and men dragged a large trunk across its ornate flooring. Several individuals were seen carrying luxurious chairs over their shoulders. In one storeroom, cupboards had been ransacked, with belongings scattered across the floor.
At another site, the Muhajreen Palace, a verified video showed men and women walking on a polished white marble floor and through towering wooden doors. A man held a vase, while an empty cabinet stood ajar in the background.
Context of Assad’s Fall
Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing Assad to flee and bringing an end to his family’s decades-long rule. This pivotal moment follows more than 13 years of brutal civil war, marking a seismic shift in the Middle East’s political landscape.
According to two senior army officers, Assad fled the capital on Sunday, his whereabouts currently unknown. This came after a rapid rebel advance into Damascus earlier in the week. Rebel forces reported taking control of the city without encountering any significant military resistance.
