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Historic sculptures and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The theft was noticed on Monday, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.

The multiple stolen statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to enhance security and surveillance.

The director of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.

Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group demolished numerous religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a violation.

Numerous historical objects were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and collections.