Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen statues were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The head of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He continued that guards at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where indications of the oldest known writing system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the start of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, one month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished numerous temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and museums.
