Abroad
Syrians stroll around palaces of ousted dictator Assad, take furniture, crockery, Louis Vuitton box
Assad fled Syria on Dec. 8 as rebels took control of the capital.
December 09, 2024, 12:41 PM
Syrians were seen leisurely lifting "souvenirs" from former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's palaces after rebels seized control of the capital on Dec. 8, 2024 and overthrew his government.
The looting
Videos circulated on social media showed groups of people strolling into the palaces and rummaging through cupboards, with objects strewn across the floor.
Some were seen carrying crockery, or packing items into trash bags.
One was seen carrying a Louis Vuitton box.
Syrians loot President Assad's house
シリア人がアサド大統領の家を略奪 pic.twitter.com/tqjqugGV5B
— digitalsoldier pyontaka様御一行様 誰がハゲやねん！？ おこるでしかし！ (@DPyontaka92762) December 8, 2024
End of a 24-year regime
Reuters reported that the looting took place at the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace and Muhajreen Palace in Damascus, according to verified videos.
Children ran through the grand, formal rooms while groups posed for photographs in the palaces.
People were also seen carrying chairs, vases and other ornaments out of the buildings.
These scenes were similar to the looting of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's palaces after his regime was overthrown in 2003.
On Dec. 8, Syrian rebels declared the end of Assad's regime when they entered Damascus to little resistance.
Fighters walk in the Syrian presidential palace on Dec. 8, 2024, after President Bashar al-Assad fled Syria. Image from Omar Haj Kadour / AFP.
Two senior army officers told Reuters that Assad flew out of Damascus earlier that day.
The Russian foreign ministry said on Dec. 8 that Assad had resigned his post, BBC reported.
It brought an end to Assad's 24-year rule over the country, which has been plagued by a full-scale civil war since 2011.
Assad & family granted asylum in Russia
Assad and his family subsequently arrived in Russia after being granted asylum by Russian authorities, according to Russian news agencies, Al Jazeera reported.
Quoting an unnamed source, the agencies said Russia has granted the family asylum on “humanitarian grounds”.
Top image from @DPyontak/X & @feras_m79/Instagram
