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Valuable statues and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen protection and surveillance.

The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He noted that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, houses the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.

The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.

Countless artefacts were also lost or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.