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Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen protection and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He continued that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the primary archaeological collection in Syria.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was transferred and stored at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The IS organization blew up numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the demolition as a atrocity.

Numerous cultural items were also lost or looted from dig sites and collections.