Historic statues and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to improve security and observation methods.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that guards at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It contains historical records tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and museums.
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