By GHAITH ALSAYED and BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Thieves broke into Syria ‘s national museum and stole several ancient statues dating back to the Roman era, officials said Tuesday. • FILE – In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency, SANA, people attend the reopening ceremony for Syria’s National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 28, 2018. (SANA via AP, File)

The National Museum of Damascus was briefly closed after the heist was discovered early Monday. The museum had reopened in January as the country was recovering from a 14-year civil war and the fall of the 54-year Assad family rule last year.

The country’s largest museum houses priceless antiquities. After the civil war started in March 2011, security was improved with metal gates and surv

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