Ancient Artifacts Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The six missing pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, one official told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the most important cultural treasures in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The militant faction destroyed numerous ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or taken from archaeological sites and museums.
