Syria launches probe into theft of ancient artifacts from national museum

DAMASCUS, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syrian authorities have launched an investigation into a theft at the National Museum in Damascus after several ancient statues and rare artifacts were reported stolen late Monday, according to the Damascus Internal Security Command.

The authorities have not yet released details on the number or value of the stolen pieces.

Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh, head of internal security in Damascus, told the state news agency SANA on Tuesday that police "immediately began an investigation into the incident that occurred last night at the national museum."

He said specialized teams are conducting detailed tracking and investigation operations to identify and arrest the perpetrators and recover the stolen items.

Founded in 1919, the National Museum in Damascus is considered one of the most important and oldest museums in the Arab world. It houses collections spanning thousands of years of Syrian history, from prehistoric artifacts to Islamic art.

The museum was temporarily closed in December 2024 following the fall of the former Syrian government, and was reopened in January as part of efforts to restore cultural life in the capital.■