Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, Syrian heritage professionals are mobilizing to protect and restore the country's ancient sites. Although the transitional government is not prioritizing heritage preservation, civil society organizations are stepping in to assess and safeguard archaeological sites. There have been reports of looting and damage, notably at the Institute of Archeology and the museum on Arwad Island, yet swift actions have been taken to secure these locations. Meanwhile, key sites like Aleppo are reported to be largely undamaged.
"Unfortunately, the authorities and the transitional administration are still in the preparation stage and are not focused on the heritage file; it is currently not a priority," says Ayman al-Nabo.
On the other hand, civil society organisations dedicated to preserving heritage are intensifying their efforts and remain on high alert to assess the current state of archaeological heritage and protect sites.
After Assad's regime collapsed, heritage professionals quickly organised, forming a forum with around 200 people on WhatsApp to exchange information in real time and co-ordinate efforts.
We don't have all the information yet, but we think 38 objects were stolen from the Arwad museum."
The cultural association Syrians for Heritage reported last December that the city of Aleppo, home to a Unesco World Heritage Site and the Aleppo Museum, was 'preserved without any damage'.
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