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Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

The robbery was found on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official told the news agency.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The director of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the primary archaeological collection in the country.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.

The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the collection was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.

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

The militant faction demolished numerous temples and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the demolition as a violation.

Many historical objects were also lost or stolen from historical locations and museums.