Ancient Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.
The six missing sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to improve protection and monitoring systems.
The chief of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was removed and kept at secure places to protect them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the destruction as a violation.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or taken from dig sites and collections.
