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Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.

The six taken pieces were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that measures had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that security forces were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secure places to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The militant faction destroyed numerous religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a war crime.

Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.