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

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.

The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been taken to improve protection and monitoring systems.

The director of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, houses the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.

The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group blew up several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.

Countless historical objects were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and collections.