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Historic sculptures and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.

The six stolen sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, a source told the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.

The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as saying that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It contains historical records dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was built at Dura Europos.

The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The militant faction demolished multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a violation.

Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.