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Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.

The six missing sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official told the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen security and observation methods.

The chief of domestic security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the significant archaeological collection in the country.

It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and kept at secure places to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

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

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