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Ancient statues and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

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

The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source informed the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama 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 museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the most important cultural treasures in the country.

It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at an ancient location.

The facility was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was removed and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces removed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The Islamic State group blew up several ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a violation.

Countless historical objects were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and museums.