Ancient Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen statues were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It contains historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction destroyed several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.
