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Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.

The multiple missing statues were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to improve protection and monitoring systems.

The chief of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".

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

The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.

It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at Dura Europos.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Many historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and museums.