Videos circulating on social media show rebels exploring the vast garage of the New Shaab Palace, where they discovered the dictator’s impressive collection of vehicles. One observer pointed out a rare Mercedes-Benz with gullwing doors, according to The NY Post.
In addition to the cars, the rebels found SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, and what appeared to be an armored truck. The videos show them walking through the mansion, taking selfies, firing guns into the air, and looting items.
Some clips show men removing furniture and artwork, while women, dressed in full hijab, searched through the palace’s dishes and bed linens. One video even reveals what looks like an armory stocked with numerous submachine guns.
The palace, perched on a hill on the outskirts of Damascus, is a fortress made of stone and marble. The Guardian once described it as an “echoing monument to dictator decor.”
The rebels discovered the palace abandoned after their rapid offensive through Damascus on Sunday, which led to the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad and the end of five decades of Baathist rule. This marked the collapse of Assad’s regime, during which he and his family lived extravagantly while the people suffered.
Following the fall of his regime, Assad fled by plane to Moscow, where he and his family have reportedly been granted political asylum, according to Russian state media.
RIA Novosti reported that the Kremlin is in contact with Syrian opposition leaders, who have assured security for Russian military and diplomatic sites in Syria. The Russian government has reiterated its call for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, hoping to continue dialogue for the benefit of the Syrian people and foster better bilateral relations between Russia and Syria.
