QARDAHA, Syria. The once-grand mausoleum of the Assad family in Qardaha, western Syria, now lies in ruins—reduced to ashes, looted artifacts, and scattered bullet casings. Syrian rebels, who stormed the mausoleum following their capture of Damascus, see its destruction as a symbolic end to the Assad dynasty’s decades-long grip on power.
The mausoleum, built to honor the Assad family, including the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and his wife, was a prominent monument in Qardaha. Its marble walls now bear the scars of rebellion: torched interiors, shattered memorials, and graffiti slogans denouncing the Assads.
“God willing, we will wipe all of Syria’s streets clean of the Assad family and their injustices,” said Ahmet al-Abdullah, a rebel from Aleppo who participated in sacking the mausoleum. “We will become a civilized country without an image of anyone no matter their status,” he added, referring to the omnipresent portraits and statues of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad that once adorned Syrian streets.
A Symbol of Rebellion
As winds scattered ashes across the mausoleum floor, fighters and civilians fired celebratory gunshots, chanted revolutionary slogans, and stomped on the remains of Hafez al-Assad’s memorial. The tomb of his wife, Anisa Makhlouf, was also destroyed.
The rebels view the destruction as a necessary step toward dismantling the Assad regime’s legacy. “Our flag will be the revolution flag, it will not be the terrorist flag of the regime which engaged in terrorism against the Syrian people,” al-Abdullah declared.
Celebration in Latakia
In nearby Latakia, the stronghold of the Assad family’s Alawite sect, residents joined the celebrations. Dozens gathered around a central monument, waving flags and brandishing guns, while cars honked in jubilation.
The fall of the Assads marks a pivotal moment in Syria’s tumultuous history. For many, the sacking of the mausoleum serves as both a symbolic and literal rejection of the family’s decades of autocratic rule. As one observer noted, the rebels’ actions reflect their resolve to rebuild Syria free from the shadows of the past.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
