Valuable Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source stated to the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that guards at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the damage as a violation.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
