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Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.

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

The multiple stolen pieces were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, an authority informed the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He noted that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interviewed.

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

It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.

The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secure places to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

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

The IS organization destroyed several religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a atrocity.

Countless cultural items were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and museums.