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

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

The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that actions had been taken to improve safeguarding and surveillance.

The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary archaeological collection in Syria.

It contains historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secret locations to protect them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

The militant faction blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the demolition as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also damaged or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.