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Historic statues and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.

The multiple missing sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to improve security and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He added that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It includes historical records originating to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at an ancient location.

The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after rebel forces removed President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization demolished several religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the damage as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and museums.