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Valuable statues and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen stolen statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, a source told the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to enhance security and surveillance.

The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He continued that guards at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It contains historical records originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secure places to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.

All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the destruction as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also lost or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.