Valuable Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus

Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The robbery was found on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen taken statues were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that actions had been taken to improve security and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He noted that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary cultural treasures in the country.

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

The Islamic State group destroyed numerous religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the demolition as a atrocity.

Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and collections.