• Thieves broke into the National Museum of Damascus, stealing several marble statues dating from the Roman era.
• The theft was discovered early Monday; the museum had been closed temporarily following the incident.
• The section targeted contained artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, making it a historically rich part of the museum.
• Officials from Syria’s Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums confirmed an active investigation but did not disclose the exact number of stolen statues.
• The museum had only recently reopened in January 2025 after years of closure due to war and concerns about looting.
• Security at the museum had been increased with metal gates and surveillance cameras after the war started.
• Syrian authorities have not made a public statement about the incident yet.
