Historic Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen missing statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to improve security and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It features historical records tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished numerous religious structures and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a violation.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.
