Ancient Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, a source stated to the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest writing system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents removed the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the damage as a violation.
Many cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and museums.
