At Least 18 Injured in Twin Explosions During Macron’s Visit to Syria
Two explosions occurred near the residence of French President Emmanuel Macron in Damascus, coinciding with his visit to Syria. According to the Syrian Ministry of Interior, at least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured. The blasts took place near the Ministry of Tourism and outside the security perimeter designated for the French delegation.
The Ministry of Interior stated that two bombs were hidden, one inside a parked vehicle and another in a trash bin. Local sources told media outlets that among the injured was the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Syria. Reuters news agency also confirmed the occurrence of the explosions.
The Élysée Palace issued a statement saying that Macron did not hear the explosions while en route to the presidential palace and that his schedule continued as planned. French officials had kept the details of the visit confidential for security reasons prior to the presidential aircraft’s arrival in Damascus.
Macron, who arrived in Syria on Monday, is the first prominent Western leader to visit the country since Ahmad Al-Shar’a came to power in late 2024. He visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus alongside Al-Shar’a, a historic mosque widely recognized as one of the most significant religious and cultural landmarks in the Islamic world.
After dining in Damascus’s old city, the French president wrote in the Umayyad Mosque memorial office that the site reflects centuries of history, religions, and civilizations in Syria. In his note, he referred to the mosque’s historical background and the coexistence of Roman and Christian heritage within it.
Meanwhile, the Syrian news outlet Al-Ikhbariyah reported that Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani, the self-declared president of Syria, welcomed Macron at the presidential palace while the explosions were audible in the city. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.
