Historic Sculptures Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus

Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.

The six taken statues were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source informed the media outlet.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to enhance security and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".

He noted that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and kept at secure places to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the civil war.

The militant faction demolished numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a atrocity.

Many cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and museums.