Historic Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus

Ancient statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

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

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.

The director of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He continued that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important cultural treasures in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the oldest known writing system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.

The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the collection was transferred and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.

It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The IS organization demolished several ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities condemned the destruction as a war crime.

Countless artefacts were also lost or looted from historical locations and museums.