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Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.

The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the media outlet.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance security and surveillance.

The head of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as saying that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.

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

It includes historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.

The institution was forced to close in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.

Countless historical objects were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and collections.