Explosions in Damascus Injure 18 During Macron’s Syrian Visit
Eighteen people were injured in central Damascus after two explosive devices went off near the Four Seasons hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying for a series of talks with Syrian Leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa.
According to state news agency Sana, security forces detected two bombs—one hidden in a parked vehicle and another concealed in a bin—before the initial detonation. A second explosion, likely a counter‑attack, took place 20 metres away and left several police officers wounded.
French officials confirmed that Macron was unharmed and report said he did not hear the blasts as he travelled to meet al‑Sharaa at the presidential palace. He later thanked foreign aid and called on an end to violence in Syria.
The incident underscores the continuing security challenges facing the country, with militant groups, such as the remnants of ISIS, carrying out recent attacks on government installations and civilian centres.
Macron’s visit, the first by an EU head of state since the coup in 2024, is part of a broader effort to signal Iraq’s return to the international community and to address Syria’s economic situation, with reconstruction being a principal agenda at the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey.
Video footage of the explosions is unavailable in this format; the story is accompanied solely by the textual description and a still photo of Macron interacting with Syrian officials.
