Two explosions occurred near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his visit to Damascus, Syria, just minutes before he was to meet President Ahmed Al-Shara. The French leader was unharmed and continued his planned schedule as normal.
Syrian security sources told AFP news agency that two powerful explosions took place in central Damascus, the capital of Syria, this morning (7 Jul) local time. The blasts occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel, where President Emmanuel Macron of France was staying overnight during his official visit to Syria.
The explosions happened only minutes before Syrian state television announced that President Macron had arrived at the Syrian presidential palace to meet with Ahmed Al-Shara, Syria’s new leader. The Élysée Palace in France quickly issued a statement confirming the French leader was "safe and sound," adding that he did not hear the explosions since his motorcade had already left the hotel. Macron will continue his visit to Syria as planned.
Syrian authorities reported at least 18 injuries, including 4 police officers. The Syrian Ministry of Interior stated, "18 people were injured, including 4 policemen," from the blasts caused by "two improvised explosive devices." Security sources indicated that the first bomb was hidden inside a trash bin, while the second was concealed in a vehicle parked near the Four Seasons Hotel.
AFP reporters on site described hearing loud explosions reverberate throughout the capital and seeing thick black smoke rising near the hotel. AFP photographers noted that the windows of the Ministry of Tourism building, located directly opposite the hotel, were severely damaged by the blast pressure.
Hamam Hammoud, a Syrian eyewitness, recounted, "I saw three traffic police officers injured lying on the ground before security forces quickly evacuated people from the area and closed all roads leading to the blast site." Numerous ambulances with sirens blaring rushed to the scene, while images shared online showed a car on fire and blood stains scattered on the street.
This brazen attack marks the second bombing in a few days following a bombing at a coffee shop near the courthouse in Damascus last Thursday, which killed 10 people and injured 20 others. No group has yet claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.
Emmanuel Macron is the first Western and European Union leader to visit Syria since the rebels led by Ahmed Al-Shara, a former Al-Qaeda commander, overthrew the regime of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Macron deliberately kept his travel plans confidential and only announced his visit after his plane landed on Monday night for security reasons. That evening, he dined with Syrian leaders and visited the renowned Umayyad Mosque.
Macron’s visit aims to highlight Syria’s geopolitical shift under Ahmed Al-Shara’s leadership, who is seeking closer ties with Western and Middle Eastern countries after Syria’s isolation during Assad’s era. The visit signals hopes for rebuilding the country devastated by over 13 years of civil war.
Although Ahmed Al-Shara, representing Syria’s large Sunni Muslim population, has pledged to establish a new, inclusive society, the recent bombing in the capital underscores the significant security challenges the country faces. Armed extremist groups, including ISIS remnants, remain active. Efforts to maintain peace by the new government are continuously tested by violent clashes between government forces and ethnic and religious extremist groups, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths over the past year.
. . .Associated Press/AFP/Le Figaro