Historic Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The multiple stolen pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that steps had been enacted to improve safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He noted that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was removed and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group blew up numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the demolition as a atrocity.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
