Historic Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman period, a source informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that measures had been implemented to enhance protection and observation methods.
The head of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient writing system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was removed and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction demolished numerous temples and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the damage as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also lost or taken from dig sites and museums.
