Historic Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus

Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The multiple missing pieces were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source told the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to enhance security and monitoring systems.

The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He continued that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the demolition as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.