Syrian authorities are investigating the theft of some antiquities, including statuettes of the goddess Venus, from the National Museum in Damascus, which remains closed.

The Syrian authorities have launched an official investigation following the theft of antiquities from the National Museum in Damascus, including several Roman statuettes of the goddess Venus. The museum will remain closed until the collection of evidence is completed, and the General Directorate of Antiquities has announced measures to ensure the safety of the collections.

The incident occurred on the night from Sunday to Monday, when unknown individuals broke into the "classical" wing of the museum, which houses valuable relics. In addition to statuettes, gold ingots were also stolen. The museum, which has escaped the destruction of the civil war, hosts a vast collection of artifacts, many of which have been transferred from violence-affected areas. The theft of artifacts has been a major problem during the conflict, bringing substantial profits to traffickers.