Historic Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.
The six taken pieces were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He continued that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, contains the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group destroyed several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and museums.
