Ancient Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, an authority told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was removed and stored at secure places to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished several religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the destruction as a violation.
Countless cultural items were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.