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Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.

The burglary was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.

The multiple taken statues were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, an authority informed the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that actions had been taken to improve security and observation methods.

The director of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at an ancient location.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The militant faction destroyed numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the destruction as a war crime.

Many cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and museums.