Syria's Ministry of Culture briefly published details of artifacts stolen from the Damascus National Museum, including six Roman-era marble statues of Venus and gold ingots, only to delete the post hours later. The theft occurred on Sunday night and was discovered Monday morning when a broken door was found. International media reported the theft citing anonymous sources, and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) confirmed an investigation but provided no further details. The museum, which houses thousands of antiquities, had reopened in January after closing during the civil war and the fall of the Assad regime.
The incident has intensified demands for transparency from Syrian cultural authorities, as the lack of official information fuels concerns about security and accountability. UNESCO had noted serious safety deficiencies during a summer assessment and was supporting security upgrades for only one storage room due to limited resources. The theft underscores the vulnerability of Syria's cultural heritage amid ongoing instability, and the deletion of the ministry's statement raises questions about the government's willingness to disclose the full scope of the loss.