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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.

The six taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that steps had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It contains historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the collection was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

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

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The militant faction demolished several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the damage as a violation.

Many historical objects were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.