Historic Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The multiple missing sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and additional people were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction destroyed multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and collections.