In brief
French President Emmanuel Macron is safe following reports of explosions in central Damascus, the Elysee Palace confirmed. The blasts, caused by two detonated devices, walled off a hotel and injured several civilians but did not affect the president or his entourage. Macron was on a diplomatic mission to meet Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, and his visit will move on to a NATO summit in Turkey. The incident follows a recent cafe bomb that killed nine people, underscoring the fragile security situation in the capital.
French President Emmanuel Macron is safe following reports of explosions in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, the Elysee Palace said.
Macron had flown to Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first EU leader to visit the country since the end of Bashar al‑Assad’s 24‑year rule. He was set to meet Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa at the presidential palace.
A security source told the BBC that the blasts were caused by two explosive devices and that several people were wounded. Videos and images circulating on social media show plumes of smoke and flames rising from a vehicle near a hotel in the city.
Macron’s officials confirmed he did not hear any explosions on his way to the meeting. The visit, which will continue as planned, follows a 4‑day‑ago bomb blast at a crowded café in central Damascus that killed nine people and injured 22 others.
After concluding his Syrian trip, Macron will head to Turkey for the NATO summit. The incident, located approximately 125 m from the Four Seasons Hotel on the Shoukry al‑Quowatly thoroughfare, highlights the ongoing security challenges in Damascus.
