As NBC News recently explored the squat, modernist palace nestled in the heights above Damascus, an eerie calm prevailed, contrasting the aftermath of an apparent robbery. Members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group, key players in the rebellion that ousted Assad, now stood watch, scrutinizing passing vehicles to prevent further looting of the opulent estate that once housed the deposed leader.
Upon entering, grand doors revealed a vast, marble-clad dining hall adorned with exquisite chandeliers of what seemed to be the finest crystal. The sight of an overturned mattress in one of the palace’s bedrooms hinted at the chaotic events that had unfolded. Nearby, another of Assad’s guest palaces bore witness to lavish spending, despite signs of intrusion and vandalism in some areas. While fire damage marred one room, leaving chandeliers cloaked in ash, remnants of theft were evident elsewhere, though the artwork on the walls and intricate mother of pearl inlays remained untouched.
Freshly laid carpets on refurbished staircases still wore the plastic coverings they arrived in, alongside luxurious furniture pieces, suggesting a vision of enduring power harbored by Assad. Within his own quarters, a makeshift doctor’s clinic and a barber’s station, featuring a sleek presidential barber’s chair, hinted at the luxuries of his regime.
In the presidential compound, medical equipment lay scattered across a room, reflecting the detached reality of the former ruler’s life amidst wealth and privilege. A sprawling library, boasting a collection diverse enough to warrant a rolling ladder, displayed books ranging from children’s tales to travel guides, hinting at Assad’s varied interests. Titles like Michael Moore’s ‘Dude, Where’s My Country?’ and anthropologist Sue Black’s poignant memoir ‘All That Remains’ hinted at the intellectual curiosities that once piqued Assad’s attention. Meanwhile, a vast bookcase held a trove of modern and historical works from across the globe, reflecting a world far removed from the turmoil surrounding his rule.
The stark contrast between the grandeur of Assad’s lifestyle and the atrocities committed under his regime now lay bare for all to see. While the former First Family reveled in opulence, their reign was marked by the brutal suppression, torture, and murder of countless Syrian citizens. As NBC’s Richard Engel reported directly from Damascus and David Hodari contributed from London, the truth of Assad’s legacy and the consequences of his rule are gradually coming to light in the wake of his departure.
