Valuable Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official stated to the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been taken to improve security and observation methods.
The chief of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that guards at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was found; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at an ancient location.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was transferred and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also damaged or taken from archaeological sites and collections.
