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REBELS have stormed tyrant Assad’s treasure room in his palace, discovering a signed photo of The Queen, golden chests, paintings – and even a FIFA award.
Shamed tyrant Bashar al-Assad fled Syria as the Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, appearing to leave behind some of his most prized possessions.
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Assad’s Presidential Palace was ransacked, looters taking his and UK-born wife Asma’s personal possessions.
Rebel fighters sieved through the personal souvenirs of the tyrant in the Palace known as Qasr al-Shaab – or the “People’s Palace”.
Here they found a bizarre array of belongings that the overthrown leader and his wife left behind before fleeing to Russia where they were granted political asylum by pal Putin.
One image shows a room filled with various paintings and art pieces, with shelves filled with files, boxes, and even vases.
As they continued to browse Assad’s belongings, the rebels were able to find more bizarre items that had been left behind.
One is a signed picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from 2002.
Another item is a gold FIFA award mounted on a wooden plaque.
From 2005, it is awarded to the national team of Syria “to commemorate its participation in the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands”.
Gold seemed to be a favourite for Assad, with various plates, drawers and boxes all seeming to be made of the ultra-luxurious material.
Ordinary Syrians continued to celebrate the end of the rule of Assad, whose family’s 53-year dynasty was brought down in a 12-day offensive.
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The mansion of his brother Major General Maher al-Assad, who led a Syrian Army unit, was also turned over.
Footage showed what appeared to be a network of tunnels beneath it with high-arched ceilings, electronic doors and rooms under the house including a fully kitted-out kitchen complete with Pepsi cans and Tetley tea.
The armed wing of rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which brought down Assad, has said it would form a transitional government soon.
Western powers, however, fear a power vacuum that could lead to the resurgence of ISIS.
US jets targeted 75 ISIS targets in the east of Syria to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat” the terror group so it “does not seek to take advantage”.
Diplomats were also wrestling with how best to deal with HTS, an al-Qaeda offshoot led by softly-spoken Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, a jihadist who once praised the 9/11 attackers.
He wants to impose strict Sharia law on Syria.
The White House said it would “work with all the groups in Syria”, while Turkey said developments in the country had “given us a glimmer of hope”.
The prison liberation comes amid a cascade of events that have toppled Assad’s 24-year rule.
After seizing Damascus in a swift and decisive offensive, rebel forces declared victory and announced that the city was “free of Assad.”
The dictator fled the capital on Sunday, reportedly aboard a plane that disappeared from radars.
He has been given refuge in Moscow and is currently under Russian protection.
The collapse of Assad’s regime ignited celebrations across Syria.
In the capital, thousands poured into the streets, waving rebel flags and lighting flares.
Statues of Assad and his late father, Hafez, were toppled in symbolic acts of defiance.
At Assad’s presidential palace, rebels filmed themselves looting valuables, including luxury vehicles and designer goods.
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