Officials have reported the theft of ancient statues and other artifacts from Syria's National Museum in Damascus. The Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loss of several exhibits and stated that protective measures have been reinforced.
The theft was discovered on Monday after museum staff found one of the institution's doors had been broken from the inside.
Six marble statues, identified as dating from the Roman era, are among the missing items, according to one official speaking to the Associated Press. Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, head of internal security in Damascus province, confirmed that security forces are investigating the theft, which he stated targeted "archaeological statues and rare collectibles." Museum guards and other individuals are currently being questioned as part of the inquiry.
Established in 1919, the National Museum houses Syria's most significant archaeological collection. Its holdings include 14th Century BC clay cuneiform tablets from Ugarit, 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, and a 3rd Century AD synagogue from Dura Europos.
The museum closed in 2012 due to the civil war, with most of its collection being relocated to secure sites. It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
During the civil war, all six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites experienced damage or partial destruction. The Islamic State group demolished several temples and structures at Palmyra. This destruction was condemned by Unesco as a war crime. Numerous artifacts were destroyed or looted from both archaeological sites and museums throughout the conflict.