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Valuable sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

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

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The head of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was removed and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization destroyed multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a war crime.

Numerous cultural items were also lost or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.