Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple missing pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to strengthen security and surveillance.
The head of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It features historical records tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the demolition as a violation.
Many artefacts were also damaged or looted from dig sites and collections.
