Valuable Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was found on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been taken to strengthen security and surveillance.
The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Many cultural items were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
