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Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen stolen statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the news agency.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures had been taken to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.

It contains historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at Dura Europos.

The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

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

The Islamic State group destroyed numerous religious structures and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.

Many cultural items were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.