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Valuable statues and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was discovered on Monday, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The multiple stolen statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to enhance protection and monitoring systems.

The head of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He added that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed several temples and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a violation.

Countless artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and museums.