🔗 Share this article

Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.

The multiple taken statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen security and monitoring systems.

The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He added that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the significant historical artifacts in the country.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization blew up numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities condemned the demolition as a violation.

Many historical objects were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and museums.