Ancient Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of items", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and observation methods.
The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the collection was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Many cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
