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

Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was discovered on Monday, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.

The six stolen pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, one official told the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to improve security and observation methods.

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

He added that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient writing system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at an ancient location.

The museum was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups removed the Assad regime.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed several temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the destruction as a violation.

Countless historical objects were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.