The damage caused during and in the aftermath of the Gulf War to the cultural monuments and heritage of Iraq resulted directly from the bombing. Some of the effects were immediate, the rest were due to delayed reactions to the vibrations. However, the most serious loss to the country took place during the insurgencies immediately after the war was over when nine provincial museums were looted and robbed of their objects. In all some 4000 objects are missing. Although many will have been destroyed during the upheavals, others have begun to appear on the antiquities markets in the West.