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

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

The six stolen statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, one official stated to the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to strengthen security and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It features historical records originating to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secure places to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The Islamic State group destroyed numerous religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a war crime.

Numerous artefacts were also lost or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.