Historic Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Valuable statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, one official informed the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to improve protection and surveillance.
The chief of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up numerous ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the demolition as a violation.
Many cultural items were also damaged or taken from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
