Ancient Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source informed the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to enhance security and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents deposed the Assad regime.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the demolition as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also lost or looted from dig sites and museums.
