Ancient Statues Taken from the National Museum in Damascus

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

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.

The six stolen statues were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The head of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He continued that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important cultural treasures in the country.

It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest writing system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the start of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.

The IS organization destroyed multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and museums.