Valuable Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

Ancient statues and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source told the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to improve safeguarding and surveillance.

The head of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.

The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The IS organization demolished several ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the demolition as a atrocity.

Countless historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.