Ancient Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to improve protection and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He added that guards at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, houses the most important cultural treasures in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and museums.
