Valuable Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus

Ancient statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.

The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that measures had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The head of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

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

The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the earliest writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was built at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

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

The IS organization blew up several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the damage as a atrocity.

Countless cultural items were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.