Explosions Rock Damascus Near Macron's Hotel During Landmark Syria Visit
Explosive devices detonate near the French president's Damascus hotel during his landmark two-day visit
DAMASCUS — Two explosions have been reported in Damascus near the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism, in the same area where French President Emmanuel Macron is staying during his visit to Syria — the first by a Western European leader since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.
Local media reported that the blasts on Tuesday were caused by a series of explosive devices that went off around the hotel where the French leader had spent the night. There was no immediate word on casualties or the scale of the damage, though preliminary accounts pointed to several injuries.
According to those reports, Macron and his accompanying delegation had left the hotel only about fifteen minutes before the explosions. In the aftermath, roads were sealed off and additional security measures were put in place. No group has so far claimed responsibility.
Macron is in Syria with a business delegation for talks on regional security as well as trade and investment opportunities. He was received at Damascus International Airport on Monday by Asaad al-Shaibani, the top diplomat of the country’s ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) authorities.
Syrian media said the visit would feature a roundtable at the presidential palace bringing together Macron, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa — better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani — and their respective delegations.
The meeting carries considerable weight given al-Sharaa’s background as a former commander of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, who led foreign-backed militant forces in toppling Assad in December 2024. For critics, his rise leaves lingering questions over the nature of Syria’s geopolitical transformation after 13 years of foreign-sponsored militancy.
The latest blasts follow another attack on July 2, when an explosion at a cafe in central Damascus killed at least nine people and wounded 20 others. Syrian security sources attributed that blast to an explosive device, and footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the premises.
Reference: PressTv