Historic Sculptures Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The six stolen statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen security and surveillance.
The head of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the primary archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the destruction as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and museums.
