Explosions tore through central Damascus on Tuesday morning shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron entered the presidential palace for talks with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa – but the Elysee Palace said Macron was safe and his visit continued as planned.
A security source told the BBC the blasts were caused by two explosive devices and that several people were wounded. Videos and images on social media showed plumes of smoke and flames rising from a vehicle near a hotel in the Syrian capital, while emergency services worked around the damage.
“Explosions rocked Damascus as Macron met al-Sharaa; he is safe and visit continues.”
Macron’s officials said the French president did not hear any explosions on his way to the meeting. As reports of the blasts came in, Syrian state television said al-Sharaa had welcomed Macron at the presidential palace.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first EU leader to visit the country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule. After the Damascus leg, he is set to head to Turkey for the Nato summit.
The attack comes weeks after a bomb blast at a crowded cafe in central Damascus killed at least nine people and injured 22 others, according to Syrian state media.
The choice of timing – explosions that shake the city just as the French president sits down with his host – raises immediate questions about who was responsible and what message they intended to send. For now, Macron’s schedule remains unaltered, but the security of his visit will inevitably be under scrutiny.
