Ancient Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The six missing statues were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished numerous temples and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Many cultural items were also lost or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.
