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Historic statues and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The burglary was found on Monday, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to improve protection and monitoring systems.

The director of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

He added that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the significant cultural treasures in the country.

It features historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the oldest known writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.

All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The IS organization blew up multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a atrocity.

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