In brief
After Bashar al-Assad's abrupt departure, rebels now guard and explore the lavish halls of his former residence, highlighting the stark contrast between opulence and the ongoing turmoil in Syria.
Red carpets still stretch through the expansive halls of the presidential palace situated in Damascus, Syria. Ornate chandeliers cast light on rooms decorated with crafted damascene furniture and modernist sculptures, remnants of a bygone era of opulence. The striking palace, previously a symbol of Bashar al-Assad's two-decade rule, has now become a stronghold for armed rebels who recently seized control after Assad fled the country. The rebels, newly in charge, ensure the palace’s gates are guarded against looters and onlookers, transforming lavish reception halls into makeshift sleeping quarters. One rebel fighter who introduced himself simply as Abu Oweis expressed a desire to restore the palace, remarking on its beauty despite it being predominantly a monument to Assad's regime. “It is wrecked now, but we want to fix it,” he noted. Accompanied by Oweis, reporters were allowed inside to witness the stark contrast between the palace’s previous grandeur and the current state of its abandonment. The rebels aim to convey their claim to power by showcasing the palace, an important symbol of the regime they have displaced.
