Culture Minister Mohammad Yaseen al-Saleh conducted an inspection tour of the National Museum of Damascus today, reviewing its security system and meeting the staff responsible for the administration of the different halls. The visit was attended by his deputies, Director-General of Antiquities and Museums Anas Hajj Zeidan, along with museum directors, employees and hall supervisors.
Al-Saleh followed up on the ongoing investigation into the theft reported a few days earlier in one of the museum’s halls. He had instructed that the site be cleared to facilitate the investigation, and to prevent tampering with the scene or altering its features.
In parallel with the Interior Ministry’s efforts and the work of the specialized committee formed for the case, the minister engaged independent Syrian technological experts with high-level competence to help secure as much evidence as possible. According to the ministry, the information extracted contributed to revealing key details of the theft. The Culture Ministry expressed hope that investigations will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the swift recovery of the stolen items.
A report by the Gerda Henkel Foundation recently indicated that more than 40,000 artifacts were looted from Syrian museums and archaeological sites in past years by militias of the deposed regime and ISIS. To confront this, the ministry implements an ongoing program to recover looted Syrian antiquities in cooperation with Interpol.
All museum branches across Syrian provinces are currently undergoing comprehensive restoration and rehabilitation, including infrastructure upgrades and enhanced security systems.
The ministry has also reactivated excavation operations with international archaeological missions. Excavations resumed at the ancient site of Ugarit in northern Latakia after a 14-year hiatus, led by a joint mission from the University of Pavia and the Directorate of Antiquities, headed by Professor Lorenzo d’Alfonso, with participation from Italian and Turkish scholars.
Authorities said the museum’s classical hall had been breached on last Monday night, with several glass cabinets broken and six small statues made of gypsum, marble and alabaster stolen. The pieces measure between 23 and 40 centimeters in height, and the ministry issued an official circular with their specifications, urging citizens to report any sightings or information that may help track the items or identify the perpetrators.
