Valuable Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The six stolen statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, one official informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to strengthen protection and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He added that guards at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was removed and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.
