Valuable Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen missing statues were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to improve safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that security forces were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He noted that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was removed and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up multiple temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
