Historic Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

Historic artifacts and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.

The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen security and observation methods.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He continued that guards at the facility and additional people were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It contains historical records dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was removed and kept at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups removed the Assad regime.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

The militant faction demolished numerous religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a atrocity.

Countless artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and collections.