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Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.

The multiple missing sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The chief of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He added that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It includes historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the civil war.

The Islamic State group destroyed several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Numerous artefacts were also damaged or taken from dig sites and collections.