Valuable Statues Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The multiple stolen pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source stated to the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up numerous temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also damaged or looted from historical locations and museums.
