Roman-era Statues Stolen from National Museum of Damascus

Thieves broke into the National Museum of Damascus in Syria and stole several ancient Roman-era statues. The theft, discovered early Monday, led to the temporary closure of the museum, which had only reopened in January after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad family rule and a 14-year civil war. The Syria — Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums confirmed the incident, with officials stating that six marble statues were stolen and an investigation is ongoing. Osama Atkeh, the police chief in Damascus, reported that guards and other individuals are being questioned. This event highlights the vulnerability of Syria's invaluable antiquities, a concern previously underscored by the Islamic State's destruction of heritage sites in Syria — Palmyra.