🔗 Share this article

Historic artifacts and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was discovered on Monday, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen missing sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that actions had been implemented to enhance protection and observation methods.

The director of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at another archaeological site.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.

The militant faction demolished several temples and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the damage as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.