Syrian artifacts stolen in heist from National Museum of Damascus

Syrian authorities have launched an investigation and a review of security measures after thieves broke into the National Museum of Damascus and stole several cultural artifacts.

The theft was announced by Syria’s Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums in a statement reviewed by Urgent Matter. It appears to have been first reported in Western media by the Associated Press.

The statement from Syria’s DGAM did not when the theft took place, what items were taken or other details pertaining to the theft. Urgent Matter has reached out to the directorate-general for more information and additional comment.

Citing Syrian officials, the AP reported that the theft occurred Sunday night and was discovered when a door was found broken. The thieves reportedly took six marble statues dating back to Ancient Roman rule in the heist.

In the statement reviewed by Urgent Matter, the DGAM announced that the investigation had been launched under the supervision of Syrian Culture Minister Muhammad Yassin Al-Saleh and “in coordination with the relevant security authorities.”

“A number of immediate measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the artifacts and to strengthen the protection and monitoring system within the museum,” Syrian authorities said.

“Work is underway to strengthen security and protection systems in various Syrian museums as part of a comprehensive national plan to preserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage.”

The theft did not affect operations at the museum, which continues to receive visitors, the DGAM said. According to the AP, the museum was briefly closed Monday after the theft was discovered.

Last December, Syrian rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham’s Ahmed al‑Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, seized control from President Bashar Assad’s brutal regime—leading the museum temporarily close. It reopened weeks later in January.

Ongoing conflict and political instability across Syria and neighboring countries have long fueled fears of artifact trafficking and cultural heritage loss. Experts have warned that wars and regime changes often create opportunities for looting, with valuable antiquities smuggled through regional networks and sold on the black market to international buyers.

Earlier this month, Iraqi officials announced that British authorities had recently seized 185 Iraqi artifacts as Iraq pushes for the repatriation of items looted from its cultural sites since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

The theft also comes amid heightened attention to museum heists in the wake of the Louvre Museum in Paris last month.

Follow along with other art crime stories at Urgent Matter’s art crime tracker.