Two consecutive bombings occurred in Damascus during the historic visit of the French president to Syria, injuring at least 18 people and causing damage to vehicles and surrounding buildings.
The explosions happened on Tuesday, 8 Jul 2024 GMT+7, local time, while French President Emmanuel Macron was making an official visit to Syria to meet with Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior revealed that the blasts took place in a busy area of Damascus. The explosions shattered many building windows, while police and rescue teams quickly cordoned off the site and deployed investigative units to determine the cause.
Images from the scene showed a van heavily damaged, firefighters assessing the structural safety of nearby buildings, and security forces using sniffer dogs to search for suspicious objects to prevent further explosions.
A Damascus resident said he was inside a shop when he heard the first explosion, after which police secured the area, and about five minutes later, a second blast occurred.
He also noted that the incident affected the city's atmosphere and economy, as it occurred during the French president's visit aimed at revitalizing relations between France and Syria.
This bombing is a critical test for the government of Ahmad Al Shara, who came to power after leading rebels to overthrow Bashar Al Assad’s regime in 2024 and ending the prolonged 14-year civil war.
President Emmanuel Macron’s visit marks the first by a major Western leader since the new government took office. He is scheduled to proceed to Ankara, Turkey, the same day to participate in the NATO leaders’ summit.
: SourceBBC
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