Valuable Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The six stolen statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the loss of a number of items", and that measures had been implemented to improve security and surveillance.
The chief of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He continued that guards at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes historical records dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the damage as a war crime.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or taken from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
