Valuable Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The six taken pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, an authority told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It includes historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a war crime.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
