In a troubling incident for Syria’s cultural heritage, thieves broke into the National Museum of Damascus on Sunday night. Authorities closed the museum in Damascus briefly in the early hours of the investigation. 

Quoting unnamed sources from Syria’s Directorate‐General for Antiquities and Museums, journalist Mohamed Al-Saloum said the theft was discovered early Monday morning.  One source reported the break had affected the museum’s classical department where at least six statues dating back to the Roman era were taken but for the present details on what the stolen pieces were have not yet been disclosed.  Other news sources stated that gold artefacts were targeted. 

Issuing a statement via Syrian state media Brig. Gen. Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh, head of Damascus’s internal security forces, stated that an investigation had been initiated into the theft, which targeted "a number of archaeological statues and rare collectibles."

The National Museum houses artefacts spanning Syria’s rich past spanning over 11 millennia, including artworks from the Hellenistic (333 - 64 BCE), Roman (64 BCE - 365 CE) and Byzantine (395 - 632 CE) eras.  Among the antiquities on display are murals from the 2nd century Dura-Europos in Syria’s east, textiles from central Palmyra and statues of the Greek goddess of victory from the south.

The museum had only recently reopened to the public on 8 January of this year, after being closed in the lead up to Damascus falling to rebel factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), on 8 December 2024. That event also marked the departure of Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia, bringing an end to his family’s nearly 54-year rule. Unlike many other Syrian heritage sites, the museum had remained untouched by looting throughout the country's civil war. 

This weekend's theft represents more than just a loss of objects.  It strikes at the heart of Syria’s efforts to preserve and restore its cultural identity after years of conflict. Well documented, the stolen works from the collection may be difficult to sell. 

The event stands as a reminder of the persistent threat to heritage institutions in transitional societies and the urgent need for renewed attention to cultural security.