Historic Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.
The multiple stolen sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to improve security and surveillance.
The head of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished numerous temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
