Valuable Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen missing statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been taken to strengthen protection and observation methods.
The director of national security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the significant archaeological collection in the country.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the damage as a war crime.
Numerous cultural items were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
