Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The multiple stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source told the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a number of items", and that measures had been taken to enhance security and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He noted that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was built at Dura Europos.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at secure places to protect them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished several temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.
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