Ancient Artifacts Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The six missing sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that steps had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was built at Dura Europos.
The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was removed and stored at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
