Historic Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The six taken pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source informed the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization demolished numerous religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.
