Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus

Historic artifacts and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen stolen statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, a source stated to the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that measures had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.

The director of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He noted that guards at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in Syria.

It features historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was established at an ancient location.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.

The IS organization destroyed numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the demolition as a violation.

Countless artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.