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

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.

The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, a source informed the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group blew up multiple temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the demolition as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also lost or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.