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Ancient statues and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

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

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

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He added that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the significant historical artifacts in the country.

It includes historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The Islamic State group blew up multiple ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the destruction as a atrocity.

Countless artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.