Historic Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, one official informed the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been taken to improve safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the damage as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also lost or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.
