Valuable Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.
The six missing statues were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, an authority informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a violation.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and collections.