Syria’s National Museum heist: Roman-era treasures stolen amid post-war turmoil

11/12/2025 / By Belle Carter

Several ancient Roman-era statues and gold ingots were stolen from Damascus’ National Museum, marking one of the worst cultural heritage losses since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. The theft occurred Sunday night, with thieves breaking in from inside the museum.
The museum had only fully reopened in January 2025 after years of closure due to civil war. The theft highlights Syria’s instability following Assad’s ouster by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot.
Syria’s heritage has suffered immensely, including ISIS’s 2015 destruction of Palmyra’s Temple of Bel and the execution of archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad. UNESCO and ICOM had warned of rising black-market trafficking of Syrian antiquities.
Despite UNESCO’s partnership with Syrian authorities to upgrade museum security in mid-2024, the latest theft proves these efforts were insufficient against determined looters.
Former antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim called the stolen artifacts “irreplaceable witnesses to Syria’s millennia of civilization.” The theft underscores the fragility of cultural heritage in war-torn Syria and raises urgent questions about how to prevent further plunder.

Thieves have stolen several ancient Roman-era statues from Syria’s National Museum in Damascus, officials confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 11, marking one of the most significant losses of cultural heritage since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government last year.

The break-in, discovered early Monday, targeted priceless artifacts from the museum’s classical department, reigniting concerns about the vulnerability of Syria’s historical treasures after years of war, looting and extremist destruction.

The theft occurred Sunday night, with thieves reportedly breaking into the museum from the inside, according to Syrian officials who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the investigation. Among the stolen items were six marble statues and rare gold ingots; however, authorities have not yet released a full inventory. Brig. Gen. Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh, head of Damascus’ internal security forces, stated that specialist teams were working to recover the artifacts and identify the perpetrators.

According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, the National Museum, which was founded in 1919, is Syria’s oldest and most significant repository of archaeological treasures, housing collections from prehistoric times through the Islamic era. It had only fully reopened in January 2025 after years of closure due to the civil war. The theft highlights the ongoing instability in Syria following Assad’s ouster by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, which seized Damascus in late 2024.

A history of cultural destruction

Syria’s cultural heritage has suffered immensely over the past decade. In 2015, Islamic State (IS) militants captured the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and destroyed iconic monuments, including the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel. The group also looted countless artifacts and executed Palmyra’s chief archaeologist, Khaled al-Asaad, for refusing to reveal the locations of hidden treasures.

The latest theft follows warnings from UNESCO and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) about the rise of black-market trafficking of Syrian antiquities. In June 2024, ICOM reported that looting had surged amid Syria’s economic collapse and political upheaval. Just two months later, UNESCO partnered with Syrian authorities to upgrade the museum’s security measures, which now appear insufficient against determined thieves.

A nation struggling to protect its past

Syria’s new leadership, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief Ahmed al-Sharaa—recently removed from the U.S. Department of State‘s terrorist list—has pledged cooperation with international efforts to combat jihadist groups. Yet the museum heist underscores the challenges of restoring order and safeguarding heritage in a country still reeling from conflict.

Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s former antiquities chief, lamented the theft, calling the targeted classical department “a beautiful and historically rich collection” that spans the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.

“These artifacts are irreplaceable witnesses to Syria’s millennia of civilization,” he said.

The looting of Syria’s National Museum is more than a crime—it is a stark reminder of the fragility of cultural heritage in a nation torn by war and political upheaval. As authorities scramble to recover the stolen treasures, the incident raises urgent questions about how Syria—and the international community—can better protect its ancient legacy from those who seek to profit from its destruction. Without decisive action, the plunder of Syria’s past may continue unchecked, erasing millennia of history in the chaos of the present.

Watch the video below that talks about Syria and its “far-from-stable” current situation.

This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.