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Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The burglary was found on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.

The half-dozen taken statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that steps had been taken to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The chief of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He continued that guards at the facility and additional people were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important cultural treasures in the country.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

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

Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The IS organization blew up several ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a violation.

Many artefacts were also damaged or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.