Bomb Blasts Injure 18 in Damascus During Macron’s Syria Visit
DAMASCUS-Two explosive devices detonated near the hotel hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Damascus on Tuesday, injuring 18 people, including four police officers, Syrian authorities said, in an incident that underscored persistent security challenges during the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since the 2024 change in government.
A Syrian security source said the explosions occurred close to the hotel where Macron was staying. The French president was not injured and continued his official program, with the Elysee Palace saying the blasts were not heard by Macron or his delegation.
According to the Syrian state news agency, 18 people were wounded in the explosions, including four police officers.
Syrian security forces said they had discovered two improvised explosive devices during field operations and had begun efforts to defuse them. The devices exploded while specialist units were preparing to dismantle them.
Preliminary findings indicated that one explosive device had been concealed inside a vehicle parked along the roadside, while the second had been placed in a trash bin. Authorities said investigations were continuing to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.
A witness reported hearing the explosions and seeing smoke rising from the area. Security forces quickly sealed off nearby roads and imposed additional security measures around the scene, according to the security source.
The Elysee said the blasts were not audible from Macron’s presidential motorcade. A Reuters journalist traveling with the French delegation also reported hearing no explosions and observing no disruption during the president’s scheduled morning engagements.
State television later showed Macron meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, indicating that the visit proceeded as planned despite the security incident.
Macron’s trip is the first by a serving European Union head of state to Syria since forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The visit reflects France’s growing engagement with Syria’s new leadership as Damascus seeks international support for reconstruction and political normalization.
Since assuming power, al-Sharaa has sought to strengthen relations with Western and regional governments that had largely isolated Syria under Assad, while promoting plans to rebuild the country’s institutions after more than a decade of conflict.
Despite those diplomatic efforts, Syria continues to face significant security threats. During the civil war, multiple militant organizations, including the Islamic State group, established a presence across parts of the country.
Al-Sharaa has pledged to build an inclusive political order following the end of more than five decades of Assad family rule. However, his administration has faced continuing security challenges, including episodes of violence involving pro-government forces and members of religious and ethnic minority communities that resulted in hundreds of deaths last year.
