Ancient Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed several temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the demolition as a violation.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
