French President Emmanuel Macron is safe after explosions struck central Damascus on Tuesday morning while he was in the Syrian capital for high-level talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the French presidency has confirmed.
According to the Élysée Palace, Macron’s visit is continuing as planned despite the security incident.
A French security source said the explosions were caused by two explosive devices, with several people reportedly injured. No injuries to the French delegation have been reported.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed flames and thick black smoke rising from a vehicle near a hotel in central Damascus shortly after the blasts.
At around the same time, Syrian state television broadcast footage of President al-Sharaa welcoming Macron to the presidential palace for their scheduled meeting.
French officials said Macron did not hear the explosions while travelling to the presidential palace.
The French president is expected to leave Syria after the meeting and travel to Turkey to attend the upcoming NATO summit.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first leader of a European Union member state to visit the country since the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government after more than two decades in power.
His visit is viewed as a significant diplomatic step as Syria’s new leadership seeks to rebuild relations with Western nations following the country’s political transition.
The latest explosions underscore the fragile security situation that continues to affect Damascus.
Earlier this month, a bomb explosion at a crowded café in central Damascus killed at least nine people and injured 22 others, highlighting the continuing security challenges facing Syria despite the change in government.
Authorities have not yet announced who was responsible for Tuesday’s explosions, and investigations are ongoing.
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