Historic Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen missing statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and observation methods.
The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was removed and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.
