Valuable Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen missing sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, a source informed the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and observation methods.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the most important cultural treasures in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was transferred and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, one month after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or taken from archaeological sites and museums.
