Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The six stolen pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance security and surveillance.
The head of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes historical records originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the oldest known writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was removed and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed several religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the destruction as a violation.
Many cultural items were also damaged or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.
