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Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.

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

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, one official informed the media outlet.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to improve protection and observation methods.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".

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

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.

It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime.

All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the demolition as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.