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Valuable statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.

The multiple stolen statues were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.

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

It includes historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.

The institution was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, one month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.

The Islamic State group blew up numerous temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a violation.

Numerous artefacts were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and museums.