Historic Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The six stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to enhance security and surveillance.
The head of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up multiple temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the damage as a war crime.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
