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Ancient sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The multiple taken sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was transferred and stored at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.

All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.

The IS organization blew up numerous religious structures and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a atrocity.

Numerous cultural items were also damaged or looted from dig sites and museums.