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Ancient statues and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The multiple taken statues were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to strengthen security and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He continued that guards at the facility and additional people were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The museum was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The IS organization demolished multiple temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also lost or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.