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Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

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

The six missing sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official informed the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The head of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He noted that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the collection was transferred and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the damage as a war crime.

Countless artefacts were also damaged or looted from dig sites and museums.