Valuable Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was found on Monday, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple stolen pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority told the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the facility and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It features historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up numerous temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and museums.