Valuable Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, an authority informed the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to improve security and surveillance.
The head of national security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Many cultural items were also damaged or looted from dig sites and museums.
