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Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.

The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, a source informed the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to enhance security and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.

It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization destroyed several ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the demolition as a violation.

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