robbery

Thieves have broken into Syria's National Museum in Damascus and stolen several ancient Roman-era marble statues in a brazen heist that has shocked the archaeological community. The museum, which only reopened in January 2025 after years of closure during the country's devastating civil war, was forced to temporarily close its doors following the discovery of the theft early Monday morning. Officials from Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums confirmed that six marble statues were taken from the museum's classical department, though the exact number remains under investigation. The theft occurred Sunday night when criminals broke through a door to access the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine artifacts housed in what has been described as one of the museum's most historically rich