Historic Artifacts Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The six stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen security and observation methods.
The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the museum and other individuals were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up multiple religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the damage as a atrocity.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
