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Historic statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.

The multiple taken statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, an authority stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that measures had been enacted to enhance protection and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He added that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The facility was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The militant faction destroyed several religious structures and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.

Countless historical objects were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and collections.