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Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.

The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source informed the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".

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

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at Dura Europos.

The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was removed and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a violation.

Countless artefacts were also lost or stolen from historical locations and collections.