(MENAFN) Thieves targeted Syria’s National Museum in Damascus over the weekend, making off with several valuable Roman-era artifacts, according to reports. The theft was discovered early Monday, with some outlets noting that gold ingots were also among the stolen items.

Authorities have launched an investigation.

The break-in comes amid years of instability following the ouster of longtime leader Bashar Assad last year, which triggered clashes between the new government and rival factions.

International organizations had previously warned of a thriving black market for cultural objects in Syria. In response, UNESCO and the Syrian antiquities agency initiated a project in August to strengthen museum security.

Founded in 1919, the National Museum in Damascus is one of the Arab world’s oldest, showcasing millennia of Syrian history. It had partially reopened in 2018 after closing in 2012 due to civil war, with full public access restored in January 2025.

The museum theft follows a period of upheaval in Syria after jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus in late 2024. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became president and recently met with US officials, pledging to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS). IS previously caused widespread cultural destruction, including the 2015 demolition of monuments in Palmyra.

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