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

The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.

The six taken sculptures were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures had been taken to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.

The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was transferred and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

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

The IS organization demolished multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the demolition as a violation.

Many historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.