Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to identify the "details surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The director of national security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the collection was removed and stored at secret locations to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group destroyed several religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless cultural items were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
