Bashar al-Assad’s presidential palace in Damascus, Photo: Omar Sanadiki/AP
On Sunday, Syrian rebels took over Bashar al-Assad’s luxurious presidential palace in Damascus, with a main building covering 31,500 square metres. This residence, located on Mount Mezze, has long been a symbol of the Syrian president’s power. This was reported by Al Jazeera.
Video from inside and the abandoned complex
Videos were posted on social media showing the rebels passing through the checkpoints into the complex unhindered. The palace was abandoned, with no resistance from the guards. Later, some international journalists were able to enter the residence and filmed footage from inside the palace, which is decorated with Carrara marble.
The total area of the complex reaches 510,000 square metres and includes a private presidential hospital, the headquarters of the Republican Guard and a large fountain in front of the entrance.
Assad leaves Damascus: fate of president unknown
Bashar al-Assad left Damascus on Sunday morning aboard an Il-76 transport plane. The aircraft disappeared from radar over the city of Homs after a sharp 180-degree turn, and its further whereabouts remain unknown.
Experts suggest that the plane could have been shot down, although there is a possibility that the transponder was switched off to avoid detection. According to Reuters sources, there is a high probability that Assad could have been killed during the flight.
The palace as a symbol of the Assad era
The presidential palace, built on the orders of Hafez al-Assad in 1979, was a venue for receiving high-ranking officials and foreign delegations. In particular, in 1994, Hafez al-Assad met with US President Bill Clinton to discuss a peace plan between Syria and Israel.
The seizure of the palace and the uncertainty about the fate of Bashar al-Assad have become one of the most important events in the ongoing civil war that is turning the course of Syria’s history.
