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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

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

The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that actions had been taken to improve security and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He noted that security personnel at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.

The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was removed and stored at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.

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

The militant faction demolished numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the destruction as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and museums.