Buckets with countless dishes and household items, towels, linen sheets, expensive bags of well-known brands… Dozens of Syrians invaded today (08.12.2024) the residence of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assadwhich had previously been looted after rebel soldiers stormed its capital SyriaDamascus.
Men, women and children roamed the six-story building, the once-polished palace of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, whose stairs were strewn with documents. In videos posted on social media, dozens of people can be seen raiding the cupboards containing the expensive belongings of the president and his wife, Asma al-Assad.
According to the journalist, a reception hall of the presidential palace was completely burnt.
New power has come to Syria. Are they changing the furniture?
The palace of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was looted after the opposition seized the building. pic.twitter.com/FyapIuuWE7
— Victor vickop55 commentary (@vick55top) December 8, 2024
A painting depicting Assad was lying on the floor at the ground floor entrance.
Quilts and linen sheets are strewn on the floor, while a person is seen holding an orange Louis Vuitton box as he climbs a flight of stairs and passes another citizen carrying a bulging bag full of items.
After the rebels captured Damascus, scores of people toppled and destroyed statues of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, in Aleppo, Hama, Deraa and elsewhere.
People posed for selfies in hallways, while in other frames, a rebel sat at a desk where maps were scattered on the table and floor.
Dozens of al-Assad’s luxury vehicles have also been seized after militants ransacked his supercar garage filled with Mercedes, Ferraris and Audis.
Opposition fighters yesterday reached the outskirts of the capital for the first time since the area was retaken by government troops in 2018.
Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria from 1971 until his death in 200, when he was succeeded by Bashar. For many years after Hafez’s death, his statues symbolized the family’s control of the country.
His portraits were hung everywhere, in public buildings, offices and schools, often next to those of his son. After five decades in power, most Syrians could no longer remember the time when Assad was not ruling the country.
#Aleppo #Syria #BasharAssad #BasharAlAssad #SyrianRebels pic.twitter.com/m3iiXQkPUQ
In Damascus’s Umayyad Square, some celebrated the “liberation” by firing shots into the air while chants of “Allah Akbar” (God is great) were heard.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Amer Bata, speaking to AFP by telephone. “I can’t believe I’m living this,” he added, breaking into sobs: “It’s starting a new story for Syria.”
In their announcement, on public television, the rebels spoke of the fall of the “tyrant” Assad and said they had released all prisoners who were “unjustly held”.
“Syria is ours, it does not belong to the Assad family,” chanted gunmen as they marched through the streets of Damascus, firing into the air.
Soldiers of the Syrian army were hastily shedding their uniforms and leaving the headquarters of the general staff, in Omeidaden Square.
According to the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, Assad left Syria through Damascus International Airport, followed by high-ranking military and security officials.