A new study highlights the extraordinary efforts of Syrian archaeologists who risked their lives to save around 30,000 priceless artifacts from the Deir ez-Zor Museum in 2014 and 2015. At the time, the city was under threat of capture by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh. Deir ez-Zor, located on the Euphrates River near the Iraq border, is not only a key provincial capital but also a strategic location due to its rich oil and gas resources, making it a major battleground during the Syrian conflict. Maamoun Abdulkarim, a professor of archaeology and history at the University of Sharjah and the author of the study published in Museum Management and Curatorship, emphasizes the importance of this rescue mission as a critical example of protecting cultural heritage during war. He explains that the operation required more than just logistical planning—it demanded quick decision-making, institutional strength, trust, and the ability to adapt rapidly to unpredictable conditions. Abdulkarim notes that in wartime, there is rarely a perfect moment to act, and delaying decisions in search of certainty can be more dangerous than taking action under uncertainty. At the time of the operation, Abdulkarim was the director-general of Syria's Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM). Access to Deir ez-Zor was extremely limited, with the museum only reachable via a narrow and dangerous corridor leading to a military airport. This made the mission particularly perilous. Syria's antiquities department maintains records of about 10,000 archaeologically significant sites, many of which have been excavated or identified through surface remains. However, it is estimated that Syria may hold tens of thousands of such sites, as much of the country remains unexplored. Before the 2011 outbreak of the Syrian civil war, the country had 35 archaeological museums. While not the largest, the Deir ez-Zor Museum was one of the most valuable, housing artifacts from important Mesopotamian civilizations such as Halaf, Dura-Europos, and Mari. The period after 2014, when ISIS expanded its control in Syria and Iraq, saw widespread looting and destruction of cultural heritage. This included the fall of Mosul in Iraq and the destruction of ancient Assyrian sites like Nineveh, which forced Syrian authorities to rethink how they protected cultural assets in cities under threat. During his time as DGAM director from 2012 to 2017, Abdulkarim oversaw the relocation of about 300,000 artifacts to safer locations across Syria, including 30,000 from Deir ez-Zor. He stresses that these artifacts are more than just valuable objects—they represent the shared memory and identity of humanity, transcending national borders. Reflecting on the operation, he emphasizes that timing is crucial in rescue missions and that waiting for complete certainty can mean missing the chance to act. He also highlights the importance of skilled personnel, strong institutions, detailed records, and trusted local collaborators in protecting heritage during crises. Abdulkarim's research argues that risk management should be integrated into regular heritage practices rather than left to crisis moments. He concludes that the relationships, documentation, and trust needed for effective emergency action must be built during times of stability and cannot be developed quickly when a crisis arises.