Valuable Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The multiple taken sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The chief of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It contains historical records dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was transferred and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents deposed the Assad regime.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished numerous ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a violation.
Many artefacts were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.
