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Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was found on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.

The half-dozen missing sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.

The head of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, contains the primary historical artifacts in the country.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at secure places to protect them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

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

The IS organization demolished numerous religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.