Valuable Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that steps had been taken to enhance protection and surveillance.
The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He noted that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the collection was transferred and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished numerous temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the destruction as a violation.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
