Rebels and civilians loot Assad's residence in Damascus

Published 8 December 2024 at 15.00

Foreign. Syrian rebels and civilians have been seen running around and looting the presidential residence belonging to the country's former leader Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, reports Sky News.

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A video published by Reuters shows children running through the entrance of Assad's presidential palace Al Rawda while men carry out furniture.

A gunman is also seen with a rifle inside the palace.

Another video on social media shows corridors of what appears to be another residence in the capital, where the sounds of celebrating men and women can be heard.

“This is the people's money ,” a man is heard saying in the video.

A video geolocated by CNN shows a woman walking around the kitchen of a house in the Al Maliki neighborhood of Damascus, described as a “presidential palace.”

The well-equipped kitchen had an industrial freezer and a pizza oven. It was still stocked with fruit, vegetables and fish.

People posed and took selfies in the corridors, while another image showed a rebel sitting at a desk in an office where maps were scattered on the table and floor.

Dozens of al-Assad's luxury cars have also been seized after rebels broke into his large car garage, filled with Mercedes, Ferraris and Audis.

Others are reported to have looted Syria's central bank, where people were seen carrying sacks full of cash .

The Assad dynasty's 53-year rule over the country came to an abrupt end with the fall of the capital today.

State television showed opposition soldiers moving around al-Assad's presidential palace.

al-Assad reportedly fled in a plane this morning to an unknown destination as rebel forces approached.

Opposition forces reached the capital's suburbs yesterday, for the first time since the area was retaken by government forces in 2018.

In the kitchen, a notebook displayed a menu “for the madame” and “the boss” with notes on their food preferences as well as recipe.

“Food for the madam: She doesn't like spinach – we won't cook it again. Tomorrow we will cook salmon or fish from Latakia,” one of the notes said, according to the video the woman filmed in the kitchen .