Valuable Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The six stolen pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to strengthen security and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The IS organization destroyed several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the demolition as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.
