Valuable Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The multiple taken sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a number of items", and that measures had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the primary archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was removed and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.
Many cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
