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Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The six taken sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to enhance protection and surveillance.

The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He noted that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in the country.

It features historical records dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.

The militant faction demolished several ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the destruction as a war crime.

Countless artefacts were also lost or taken from dig sites and collections.