A historic visit by Emmanuel Macron to Damascus was overshadowed by violence on Tuesday after two explosions near the hotel used by the French delegation killed four Syrian security officers.
Blasts near the Four Seasons
Witnesses described a thick cloud of smoke rising near the Four Seasons hotel, where the French president had stayed overnight. According to a Syrian security source cited by Agence France-Presse, one explosive device was placed in a rubbish bin and another was concealed inside a vehicle parked close to the hotel. Footage shared on social media showed a burning car and patches of blood on the pavement.
The blasts occurred as Macron arrived at the presidential palace for a meeting with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Élysée Palace confirmed that the president was safe and that his programme in the Syrian capital would continue.
Visit proceeds as planned
Macron entered the palace to hold talks with al-Sharaa while the security situation was being assessed. Syrian authorities did not comment immediately on the incident, and no group claimed responsibility in the hours that followed.
Tuesday’s explosions came just days after an explosive device detonated at a café near the Palace of Justice in Damascus, killing at least ten people and injuring twenty. The attacks highlight the ongoing security challenges in the Syrian capital.
French business leaders join delegation
Macron is accompanied on the trip by several prominent French business figures, including Rodolphe Saadé, chairman of shipping group CMA-CGM, and Patrick Pouyanné, chief executive of oil company TotalEnergies. Their presence reflects France’s interest in exploring economic opportunities in post-Assad Syria.
