Assad's Presidential Palace in Damascus - in pictures

  • Abu Al Mughwar, a fighter from the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebel group, patrols Syria’s oldest presidential palace in the Al Muhajireen district of Damascus. All photos: Danny Makki for The National
    Abu Al Mughwar, a fighter from the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebel group, patrols Syria’s oldest presidential palace in the Al Muhajireen district of Damascus. All photos: Danny Makki for The National
  • The finest carpenters in Damascus worked on the interior of the Muhajireen palace
    The finest carpenters in Damascus worked on the interior of the Muhajireen palace
  • The elite HTS unit guard the palace
    The elite HTS unit guard the palace
  • Messages scrawled on the palace walls by Syrians who entered as former president Bashar Al Assad fled a rebel advance on Damascus
    Messages scrawled on the palace walls by Syrians who entered as former president Bashar Al Assad fled a rebel advance on Damascus
  • The palace windows are made of thick, bulletproof glass
    The palace windows are made of thick, bulletproof glass
  • The interior of the palace
    The interior of the palace
  • The Muhajreen presidential palace has a gym and sauna in a separate building and barracks for 300 soldiers
    The Muhajreen presidential palace has a gym and sauna in a separate building and barracks for 300 soldiers
  • The sauna
    The sauna
  • A charging station for electric cars in the palace garage, which is now empty
    A charging station for electric cars in the palace garage, which is now empty
  • The palace, built in 1910, boasts some of the finest woodwork in Syria
    The palace, built in 1910, boasts some of the finest woodwork in Syria
  • Abu Al Mughwar points out the views of Damascus from the palace roof
    Abu Al Mughwar points out the views of Damascus from the palace roof