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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.

The theft was discovered on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.

The six taken statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman period, an authority told the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that actions had been taken to enhance security and surveillance.

The director of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

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

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It includes historical records dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was established at another archaeological site.

The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization demolished several temples and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a atrocity.

Many historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.