Ancient Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official told the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was removed and stored at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up several temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and museums.
