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Valuable sculptures and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

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

The multiple taken statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source told the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The head of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the damage as a atrocity.

Countless artefacts were also damaged or taken from dig sites and collections.