Historic Statues Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple stolen statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that measures had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He added that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization destroyed several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the damage as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also lost or stolen from dig sites and collections.
