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Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The burglary was found on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.

The multiple missing statues were made of marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the news agency.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to improve security and observation methods.

The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the collection was removed and stored at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The militant faction destroyed several ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the damage as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.