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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

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

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, one official informed the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to enhance protection and monitoring systems.

The head of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, holds the primary archaeological collection in the country.

It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secret locations to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.

The militant faction demolished several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the damage as a violation.

Many cultural items were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and museums.