Anadolu captures images of Assad family’s luxurious mansion in Damascus after regime’s fall
While Syrians died under rubble, endured torture in prisons, lived in camps, Bashar Assad along with his family were living luxurious life in Damascus
A general view from inside the luxury residence where Bashar al-Assad, the leader of the 61-year Baath regime that collapsed in Syria, and his family lived until they fled on December 8 after looting the residence in Damascus, Syria on December 30, 2024.
DAMASCUS
Anadolu captured the luxurious mansion in Syria’s capital Damascus, where Bashar Assad and his family lived until their escape on Dec. 8, after it was seized by the public.
The four-story residence, located in the al-Malikiyah neighborhood, was once adjacent to the mansion of Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad. After Hafez's death, the estate is said to have been inherited by Bashar's sister, Bushra Assad.
Security forces, consisting of wounded Syrian war veterans, were stationed in the area to prevent further damage. The property is surrounded by high walls, iron barriers, and intense security measures.
Basil Assad's pictures are still at home
Inside, personal belongings of the Assad family remain scattered across the mansion.
Photographs of Bashar’s late brother, Basil al-Assad, who died in a 1994 car accident, as well as children’s magazines, card games, and international magazines featuring Bashar and his wife Asma, were found across the residence. Had Basil survived, he was widely expected to succeed his father as leader of Syria.
Since the Assad family’s departure, much of their belongings have been taken by the public. Left behind were pieces of furniture, books from the family library, empty boxes, medications, and scattered papers.
Shelter and tunnel network under house
The house where Assad’s family lived is connected to the basement of the mansion once inhabited by his father, Hafez al-Assad.
Underneath the mansion, a network of tunnels and a fortified shelter was discovered. The shelter, accessed through a long tunnel, contains guest rooms, a living area, and signs indicating the locations of other tunnels.
One sign leads to Hafez state guesthouse near the residence, known as the "Damascus Hall," where Bashar al-Assad often held official meetings.
Security forces in the area have stated that the future use of the mansion remains unclear, though there are discussions about potentially turning it into a museum.
Bashar al-Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party's regime, which had been in power since 1963.
The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.
A new administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa has now taken charge.
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