Valuable Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, a source informed the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, a month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished numerous religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the damage as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and museums.