Historic Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus

Historic sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen missing sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures had been implemented to improve protection and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It includes historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.

The militant faction destroyed multiple temples and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a atrocity.

Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and museums.