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

The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.

The six missing sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, a source told the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to enhance protection and surveillance.

The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other persons were being interviewed.

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

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was built at an ancient location.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.

All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group demolished numerous religious structures and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the damage as a war crime.

Many historical objects were also lost or stolen from dig sites and collections.