Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi is accused of misrepresenting the true value of a mosaic that was looted from Syria in 2015

Many archaeological landmarks and religious sites in the region have been heavily damaged or destroyed

Plus, Alice Neel's largest UK show and a dazzling turn-of-the-century blanket

Art organisations and artists are rallying to provide money for disaster relief in the region

The two funerary reliefs and the head of a priest were exhibited at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva in 2017

Khaled al-Asaad was killed “because he would not betray his deep commitment to Palmyra”, said Unesco chief

Dealers association challenged the campaign’s claims that two newly pictured objects were stolen

Tactical move comes after Turkish president ordered historic Istanbul site to be turned into a mosque

Indictment says the paperwork misrepresented the work’s quality and value

We look back at the biggest stories of the year

We look back at the major events that made the headlines this year

Collaboration spearheaded by the State Hermitage Museum was made official in Damascus this week

Ali Gureli apologises for accusing foreign media of spreading propaganda, but it is not yet clear if he will step down

Symposium at the British Museum, part of the Shubbak festival of contemporary Arab culture, will include artists from war-torn Yemen and Syria

The Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, Syria’s Raqqa Museum and Mosul libraries all safeguarded

New exhibition presents documents that lay the foundations for reconstruction of Aleppo and other sites ruined by civil war

The Stories Art Gallery champions artists who take a non-political approach in their work to challenge violent stereotypes of Syria

Exhibitions on the history of Syria and on Arab revolutions in the Arab world tread a fine line

Authorities says they have received "good offers from the world powers" to help conserve ancient sites

Ancient city occupied by Islamic State was retaken by Syrian army with Russian support in 2017

Aga Khan Trust for Culture calls for condemnation of destruction to be reinforced by help on the ground

Museum of Islamic Art exhibition looks at historic sites destroyed by years of civil war

Opening mega museums is not the only way to exercise soft power in the region

Iron Age structure was targeted in campaign against Kurdish separatists

Artists carry on, even on the front line, but exiles face an increasingly precarious situation