Valuable Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to improve safeguarding and surveillance.
The head of domestic security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, one month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization destroyed numerous temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.
