DAMASCUS: Groups of Syrians strolled through the palaces of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday following his ouster, wandering from room to room, posing for photographs, and with some taking items of furniture or ornaments.
Video obtained by Reuters showed people entering the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, as children ran through the grand rooms and men slid a large trunk across the ornate floor.
Several men carried smart chairs over their shoulders. In a storeroom, cupboards had been ransacked and objects strewn across the floor.
Video of another palace, the Muhajreen Palace, verified by Reuters, showed groups of men and women walking across a white marble floor and through tall wooden doors. A man carried a vase in his hand, and a large cabinet stood empty with its doors ajar.
Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing Assad to flee and ending his family’s decades of rule after more than 13 years of civil war in a seismic moment for the Middle East.
Also read: World reaction to end of Assad rule in Syria
Assad, who had not spoken in public since the sudden rebel advance a week ago, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.
SAUDI ARBIA IN CONTACT WITH ALL SYRIA STAKEHOLDERS
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been communicating with all regional actors on Syria and is determined to do what is possible to avoid chaos following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, a Saudi official said on Sunday.
“We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved,” the official told Reuters, adding that the kingdom was not aware of Assad’s whereabouts.
His failure to re-engage several regional actors and the opposition was to blame for his downfall, the official said
“The Turkish government attempted to engage and coordinate with the Syrian government, but these overtures were met with refusal,” he said.
“The current situation is a direct consequence of the Syrian government’s lack of engagement in the political process. This outcome reflects the inevitable result of such intransigence.”
Assad went to Saudi Arabia in 2023 to attend an Arab League summit, after a 12-year suspension, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“The hope was that this move would influence the Syrian government to engage more constructively with the opposition and the various stakeholders within Syria and in the region, rather than allowing the existing stalemate and fragile peace to be taken for granted,” the official said.
“We emphasized that the situation should not be underestimated, as it remained precarious. Unfortunately, this message did not result in any meaningful action from the Syrian side.”
The official said events in Syria showed some positive aspects that he hoped would continue.
“Notably, the transition has occurred without bloodshed, which is encouraging. Additionally, we appreciate the statements from various stakeholders emphasizing the importance of protecting state institutions, the sovereignty of Syria, and the rights of minority groups,” he said.
“We hope to see these positive trends continue and are committed to doing everything we can to maintain this momentum.”