Ancient Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

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

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen pieces were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, an authority stated to the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.

The head of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary cultural treasures in the country.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in 2012, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was removed and kept at secret locations to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

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

The militant faction destroyed numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Many cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.