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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.

The six taken statues were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.

The director of domestic security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It features historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.

The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The IS organization blew up several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a violation.

Countless cultural items were also damaged or stolen from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.