Historic Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, one official informed the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, holds the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up several religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and museums.
