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Ancient statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source told the news agency.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to improve security and monitoring systems.

The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important cultural treasures in the country.

It contains historical records originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The militant faction blew up several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a war crime.

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