Valuable Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was found on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.

The six missing statues were made of marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to improve protection and surveillance.

The head of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".

He continued that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.

It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the oldest known linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at Dura Europos.

The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The IS organization blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.

Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.