Ancient Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus

Ancient statues and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

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

The half-dozen missing statues were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that steps had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the earliest writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at another archaeological site.

The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was transferred and kept at secret locations to protect them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The IS organization demolished multiple religious structures and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a violation.

Countless cultural items were also lost or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.