Historic Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in the country.
It contains historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known linguistic system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the destruction as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and collections.