Valuable Statues Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The six missing statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, an authority informed the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that actions had been taken to enhance security and surveillance.
The chief of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, houses the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group destroyed multiple temples and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and museums.
