Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen missing statues were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source stated to the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to improve safeguarding and surveillance.
The head of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the destruction as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
