Historic Artifacts Taken from the National Museum in Damascus

Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.

The multiple stolen pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that steps had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".

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

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.

The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.

All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The militant faction demolished several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Numerous historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.