Ancient Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple taken statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, a source stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to improve security and monitoring systems.
The chief of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the museum and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and collections.
