Valuable Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The six taken sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance security and surveillance.
The head of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He added that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished several religious structures and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and collections.
