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Ancient statues and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was found on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.

The multiple taken pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to improve protection and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He continued that guards at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was established at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The IS organization blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Countless historical objects were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and museums.