Historic Sculptures Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, an authority told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that measures had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that guards at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was transferred and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the destruction as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and collections.
