Valuable Sculptures Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The six missing pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at Dura Europos.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
