Ancient Sculptures Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group destroyed multiple ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the demolition as a war crime.
Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and museums.
