Ancient Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, a source told the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The head of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that guards at the museum and other persons were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and stored at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after rebel forces removed the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up several religious structures and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the demolition as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from dig sites and museums.
