P
resident Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria with his family, leaving behind his opulent Damascus mansion to be ransacked by militants and rebels. Members of Jaish al-Islam stormed the sprawling estate in the affluent al-Maliki neighborhood after their rapid offensive toppled Assad's government last week.

    The luxurious compound, made up of three six-story buildings surrounded by manicured gardens, was a symbol of Assad's power. Rooms once filled with high-end furnishings were stripped bare by militants and other jubilant intruders, who roamed the halls with a mix of defiance and glee. Video footage showed them rifling through bedrooms, seizing plates, clothing, and even a Louis Vuitton shopping bag.

    The mansion now stands as a relic of a bygone era, with its heating and electricity still running – a stark contrast to the daily blackouts endured by ordinary Syrians. Assad's Presidential Palace, known as "The People's Palace," is located on Mount Mezzeh in western Damascus and spans over 310,000 square feet.

    Assad had already left Syria via secret tunnels discovered under the palace before the raid on Sunday. He and his family have found refuge in Moscow, where they were granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Assad family's new life in Russia is likely to draw on their extensive financial resources, much of which is hidden in offshore accounts and real estate investments.

    The fall of Damascus to Jaish al-Islam raises concerns about Syria's future, particularly for the Christian minority that had been protected under Assad's secular government. The militant group now holds significant power in a nation fractured by war and economic collapse.