Valuable Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was found on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, an authority informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen protection and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the destruction as a war crime.
Many cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
