SDF liberates the Museum of Raqqa looted by ISIS
SDF fighters have liberated the Museum of Raqqa, historical artifacts of which were looted by the ISIS during the years of invasion.
The operation launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to liberate Raqqa from ISIS has entered its 103rd day. Having taken 75 percent of the city under their control, SDF fighters are conducting operations against ISIS house by house in the city center. While several areas have been cleared of ISIS already, the Musem of Raqqa has already been liberated after 5 years of ISIS occupation.
The museum has been photographed for the first time in years, left in ruins and its signboard in the city center broken into pieces. Used by ISIS as military headquarters, the museum carries the traces of heavy battles. Mines are found planted in the museum where ISIS snipers were positioned for a long while.
It is also seen that ISIS gangs demolished several old walls in front of the museum, tore down the stones with the signs of the cross on them, and scattered them in the garden of the museum.
The Museum of Raqqa, northeast of Syria, was housing the most prominent historical and archaeological items of the country; antique pieces, gold coins, coins, tablets, sculptures and human figures. All these were looted and destroyed following the ISIS invasion, while those looted were transported to Europe over Turkey, and sold.
The looted historical artefacts include Goddess Ishtar Statue dating back to 3000 BC as well as mosaics and pillars from the Roman period in Apamea.
SDF fighters are not allowing access into the museum for now due to the mines intensely planted inside but one can see the inside of the museum through the windows; everything burned and torn down, all historical artefacts looted, all the panels exhibiting the artefacts shattered.
Bullet holes are seen on the facade of the museum where military emplacements were formed. Behind the museum is a historical mosque, the entrance of which leading to the garden was set on fire, and the historical stones at the front entrance were dismembered.
SDF fighters have taken the museum under protection and destroyed many mines around it. SDF’s special units will be dealing with the mines inside the museum while the fighters have already started to clear the pile of debris around.
