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Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.

The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman period, a source stated to the media outlet.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.

The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the significant historical artifacts in the country.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at Dura Europos.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, a month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.

All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The Islamic State group blew up numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.