Ancient Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, one official informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that steps had been taken to enhance protection and observation methods.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was transferred and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the damage as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.
