Thieves Steal Roman Statues from Damascus Museum

Thieves broke into Syria's National Museum in Damascus on Sunday night, stealing several ancient Roman-era statues from the facility's classical department, officials confirmed Tuesday. The heist was discovered early Monday when staff found a broken door leading to the section, prompting the museum's temporary closure as authorities launched an investigation.

Officials from Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums, speaking on condition of anonymity due to government regulations, told reporters that six marble statues dating to the Roman period were taken. The department houses artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras, reflecting thousands of years of the region's history. Damascus police chief Brig. Gen. Osama Atkeh stated to the state news agency SANA that several statues and rare collectibles were missing, adding that museum guards and other individuals were being questioned to determine how the breach occurred.

The National Museum, founded in 1919 and one of the Arab world's oldest institutions, safeguards priceless collections spanning prehistoric tools to Islamic art. During the 14-year civil war that began in March 2011, authorities...