Iraq launches plan to recover over 100,000 smuggled artifacts from abroad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi government has launched a comprehensive plan to recover more than 100,000 historical artifacts that were unearthed through illegal excavations and smuggled out of the country, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said. The ministry will lead the effort, working with international institutions and pursuing legal procedures to secure the return of the items. Under the plan, the ministry will compile an inventory of the artifacts and prepare documentation covering their origins and the countries where they were found. Officials will also coordinate with Interpol and other international police organizations to track smuggling networks involved in the trade. The ministry said the initiative aims to protect Iraq's cultural heritage and accelerate the repatriation of antiquities removed from the country. Recovered pieces will be delivered to Iraqi museums for display, according to the statement. The work will be carried out through international legal mechanisms and auction-house records, the ministry added, without specifying timelines or initial target countries. No further details were immediately available on cases already in progress.