Ancient Statues Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple missing pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that steps had been taken to strengthen security and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as saying that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest writing system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization demolished several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.
