Historic Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple missing sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It features historical records tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and museums.
