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Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to strengthen security and observation methods.

The director of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that guards at the institution and other persons were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the most important historical artifacts in Syria.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the oldest known writing system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.

The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after opposition groups deposed the Assad regime.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The IS organization demolished numerous temples and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the demolition as a war crime.

Countless artefacts were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and museums.