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Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.

The multiple missing sculptures were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that actions had been implemented to enhance security and monitoring systems.

The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.

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

It includes historical records tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was removed and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents removed the Assad regime.

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

The IS organization blew up several religious structures and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and museums.