Syria’s Interior Ministry reported that at least 18 people were wounded by explosions in Damascus on Tuesday while France’s president met with his Syrian counterpart during a significant visit.
The incidents occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel as Emmanuel Macron entered the presidential palace to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Syrian authorities did not provide immediate commentary regarding the event.
Syrian media indicated that Macron was staying at the Four Seasons. The French president’s office confirmed his safety and stated that his meeting with al-Sharaa was ongoing. This visit marks the first major Western leader to travel to Syria since al-Sharaa assumed power, and it precedes his trip to a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Macron has been instrumental in advocating for Europe and the United States to reduce most sanctions on Syria. He arrived in the nation Monday night accompanied by an economic delegation and is scheduled to sign memorandums of understanding with his counterpart as the damaged country seeks investors to aid its reconstruction following 14 years of war.
The Interior Ministry stated in a report released by Syrian state media that the two blasts in the capital's center were caused by explosive devices: one placed in a garbage bin and another in a parked car. The ministry added that four of those injured were police officers, and no fatalities were immediately reported. An investigation is currently underway at the attack site.
A substantial plume of smoke was visible from the location. The area is situated on a busy street in Damascus, close to the Tourism Ministry headquarters and the Damascus National Museum.
Footage circulating widely on social media showed a van and a motorcycle engulfed in flames, along with blood stains on the street.
There were no initial reports of casualties, and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident.
This event follows days after an explosive device detonated at a cafe near the Justice Palace in Damascus, which resulted in at least 10 deaths and over 20 injuries.
The explosions represent a setback for al-Sharaa, who took power after leading an insurgency that removed Bashar Assad in 2024.
Since then, he has worked to establish full control and bring stability to war-torn Syria, appeal to minorities skeptical of his Islamist-led governance, and secure support from Western governments wary of his prior leadership in the former al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. His administration has pledged political and economic reforms after decades of autocratic rule.
While Syria’s new leaders have navigated violence involving various factions as they strive to assert authority, the capital has remained largely peaceful during this volatile period.
The conflict in Syria caused nearly half a million deaths and displaced millions of people. Syria's infrastructure is ruined, and although other nations and businesses have pledged significant investments, the country still requires hundreds of billions of dollars for rebuilding and lifting millions out of poverty.
Prior to visiting the presidential palace, Macron met with members of Syrian civil society, though his office did not disclose specifics about these individuals.