Historic Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The six stolen statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen protection and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records originating to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the collection was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents removed the Assad regime.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the demolition as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.
