Historic Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen missing statues were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, a source informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to improve protection and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed numerous ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also lost or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.
