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Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The theft 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 multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures 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 declaring that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".

He noted that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE classical statues from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The militant faction destroyed multiple religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the damage as a atrocity.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from dig sites and museums.