The entire plateau of Mount Mezzeh is part of the palace compound and is surrounded by a security wall and guard watchtowers.

[5] The front brass gates were created by the noted Syrian-Jewish metalwork artist Maurice Nseiri.

[6] The palace premises covers about 510,000 square meters (5,500,000 feet) and also includes a private presidential hospital and the headquarters of the Republican Guard.

[8][9] On 27 October 1994, Bill Clinton met with Hafez al-Assad at the palace to negotiate a peace plan between Syria and Israel.

[13] Bashar al-Assad fled Syria, seeking Asylum in Russia[14][15][16] resulting in the fall of the Assad regime.