Valuable Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The six missing sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, contains the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.