Ancient Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, a source informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as saying that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was removed and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction demolished multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.