Dusk had fallen when Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, Syria’s new ruler, pulled up to the entrance of the apartment building where he grew up in southwest Damascus.
Earlier that day his troops had entered Syria’s capital in triumph, sweeping all before them, liberating prisoners from their dungeons and taking over government ministries. But Jolani had a more personal mission: he wanted to go home.
He went up to the tenth floor in the lift, along with four armed guards, and rang the doorbell.
His arrival came as something of a shock to Dr Ahmed Suleiman, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, the flat’s current occupants. However, according to the building’s caretaker, Amer, who witnessed the scene, Jolani was very polite.
“Would you mind vacating this apartment?”