Valuable Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, a source told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and observation methods.
The chief of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that guards at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.
