Valuable Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple missing statues were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that actions had been implemented to enhance protection and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a war crime.
Many historical objects were also lost or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.
