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Ancient sculptures and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.

The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that steps had been implemented to improve protection and monitoring systems.

The chief of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in the country.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed the Assad regime.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a violation.

Numerous historical objects were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.