Historic Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

Historic statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The burglary was found on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.

The half-dozen missing statues were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, one official informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance protection and observation methods.

The director of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that guards at the museum and other persons were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It includes historical records originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.

The militant faction demolished several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the damage as a atrocity.

Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.