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Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

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

The six taken sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to enhance protection and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He noted that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the start of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The militant faction blew up multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities condemned the demolition as a violation.

Many artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.