Valuable Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.
The multiple stolen pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.
The chief of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was transferred and stored at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The IS organization destroyed multiple religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the destruction as a violation.
Many cultural items were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and museums.
