US returns stolen antiquities worth $5 million to Syria

The United States has returned 36 stolen antiquities, valued at over $5 million, to Syria following their seizure from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and various collectors. Among the returned items is a significant stone, carved from limestone, that was removed from the ancient city of Palmyra, which was devastated by the Islamic State group between 2015 and 2017.

The sculpture, depicting a reclining male with a woman and three children, weighed more than 450 kilograms. Mohammad Kanatri, Syria's charge d'affaires in Washington, emphasized that the transfer highlights the importance of shared efforts in protecting cultural heritage, which can foster lasting relationships between nations. Four of the antiquities were seized from American collector Michael Steinhardt, who previously returned 180 items stolen from various locations as part of a deal with the US government in 2021.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art turned over 13 items from its collection, alongside 402 others, amounting to a total value of $98.7 million, since 2017.