Numerous recordings show scenes from the interior of two palaces of deposed president Bashar Al-Assad. They show that both rebels and civilians entered the building. Fighters fire shots as a sign of victory, and civilians loot the interior.
Syrian rebels announced on Sunday the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power and the takeover of control over Damascus. They added that “all prisoners” in the capital had been released and a curfew had been introduced in the city.
It is unclear where Assad is currently. Two Reuters sources indicated that perhaps he died in a plane crash. One of the machines disappeared from radar at night after it took off from Damascus airport.
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The rebels fire as a sign of victory
Footage released and verified by Reuters shows rebels firing weapons inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, on a hill on the outskirts of Damascus, to celebrate their victory.
Rebels fire shots from the premises of the Presidential Palace in DamascusReuters
Syrians stroll through the Palace
Reuters also published recordings from another Assad palace – located in the central part of the capital. Not only rebels entered there, but also civilians.
Footage from inside shows Syrians celebrating the fall of the regime and walking through the corridors of the building. Some of them take away furniture and other equipment.
Syrians remove furniture from the Presidential Palace in DamascusReuters
Moreover, crowds gathered in front of the palace to see this place previously inaccessible to citizens, the BBC noted.
Syrians walk through the Presidential Palace in Damascus. They entered there after Assad was overthrownReuters
Syrians entered Assad's PalaceReuters
They also entered Assad's other residences
Videos from Assad's other residences in Damascus also appeared online, CNN reported. One of them shows a well-equipped kitchen filled with still fresh products and notes about the culinary preferences of Assad and his wife.
A BBC correspondent reported that in the Malki district, where one of Assad's residences is located, people were keeping vigil outside their homes to protect them. It was added that government buildings were looted in the area, including: ministry of culture.
Main photo source: Reuters