Syrian rebels and civilians have been seen touring and ransacking residences of the country’s now former President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Children were seen running into the entrance of Assad’s Al Rawda presidential palace as men walked out with furniture, according to a video published by Reuters. An armed man was seen carrying a rifle in the palace.
Another video posted on social media showed the hallways of what appeared to be another residence in the capital, with the sound of men and women celebrating. “This is the people’s money,” one man was heard saying. The source was not able to geolocate the video.
A video geolocated by the source showed a woman touring the kitchen of a home in the Al Maliki neighborhood of Damascus that was described as a “presidential palace.” The well-equipped kitchen included an industrial freezer and a pizza oven. The kitchen was still stocked with fruit, vegetables, and fish. A notebook showed a menu “for the madame” and “the boss” including notes on their culinary preferences, as well as recipes.
“Food for the madame: She does not like spinach – we will not cook it again. Tomorrow we will cook salmon or Latakia fish,” one entry in the notepad said, according to the video filmed by the woman in the kitchen.