Historic Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that actions had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.
