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Historic statues and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

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

The multiple stolen statues were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen protection and surveillance.

The head of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He noted that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.

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

It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was removed and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

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

The militant faction blew up several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.

Countless historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and collections.