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Ancient artifacts and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The burglary was found on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, one official told the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that actions had been implemented to improve protection and observation methods.

The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

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

The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in the country.

It contains historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient linguistic system was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.

The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The militant faction demolished multiple temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a violation.

Many artefacts were also damaged or looted from historical locations and collections.