Historic Artifacts Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source told the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest writing system was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
