Ancient Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The multiple taken pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, a source told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that actions had been enacted to enhance security and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the damage as a war crime.
Numerous cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
