Valuable Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The multiple taken statues were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was transferred and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a atrocity.
Countless cultural items were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.
