Explosions shook the Syrian capital of Damascus on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during a landmark visit, marking the first trip by a major Western leader since Syria’s new leadership took power.
The blasts occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel shortly after Macron arrived at the presidential palace for talks with al-Sharaa. Syrian authorities did not immediately comment on the explosions.
Macron safe after blasts
Syrian state media reported that Macron was staying at the Four Seasons Hotel. The French presidency confirmed that the president was safe and that his meeting with al-Sharaa continued despite the incident.
Macron’s visit comes ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and follows his diplomatic efforts to persuade Europe and the United States to lift most sanctions imposed on Syria.
The French leader arrived in Damascus on Monday night with a business delegation and is expected to sign several memorandums of understanding aimed at boosting economic cooperation as Syria seeks foreign investment to rebuild after more than a decade of conflict.
Blasts near government buildings
State media, citing an unnamed security official, said the two explosions were caused by explosive devices.
A thick plume of smoke was seen rising from the area, which is located on a busy street near the Tourism Ministry headquarters and the Damascus National Museum.
Videos circulating on social media showed a van and a motorcycle engulfed in flames, while bloodstains were visible on the road.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, and no group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident came just days after an explosion at a café near the Justice Palace in Damascus killed at least 10 people and injured more than 20 others.
Security challenge for Syria’s new leadership
The latest attack presents another security challenge for President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading the insurgency that ousted Bashar Assad in 2024.
Since assuming office, al-Sharaa has sought to consolidate control across Syria, restore stability, reassure minority communities wary of his Islamist-led administration and improve ties with Western governments, many of which had expressed concerns over his previous leadership of the former al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
His government has pledged wide-ranging political and economic reforms after decades of authoritarian rule.
Although violence has continued in parts of Syria as the new authorities work to establish control, Damascus has remained relatively calm compared with other regions during the transition.
Rebuilding remains a major challenge
Syria continues to grapple with the devastating legacy of its 14-year conflict, which claimed nearly half a million lives and displaced millions of people.
Much of the country’s infrastructure remains destroyed, and despite billions of dollars in investment pledges from foreign governments and businesses, Syria still requires hundreds of billions more to rebuild its economy and lift millions out of poverty.
Before meeting al-Sharaa, Macron also held discussions with representatives of Syrian civil society, although the French presidency did not disclose further details about the participants.
