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

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.

The six stolen pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen protection and observation methods.

The head of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He noted that guards at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.

It includes historical records originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The Islamic State group blew up numerous religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the destruction as a atrocity.

Many historical objects were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.