Historic Statues Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen taken statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source informed the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to enhance security and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the primary archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was transferred and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
