Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The six stolen sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It contains historical records dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the start of the internal strife. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed multiple religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and collections.
