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Valuable statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

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

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to improve protection and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He added that guards at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It includes historical records dating back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.

The Islamic State group demolished several ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a violation.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from historical locations and museums.