Two explosions have been reported in Damascus near the Ministry of Tourism headquarters, in an area where French President Emmanuel Macron is staying as the first Western European leader to visit Syria since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024.
Local media outlets reported that the Tuesday blasts were caused by a series of explosive devices that detonated around the hotel where the French leader spent the night, with no immediate information on any casualties or the extent of the damage.
The outlets noted that Macron and his accompanying delegation had departed the hotel just fifteen minutes prior to the explosions.
According to preliminary information, the blasts have resulted in several injuries.
No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.
Roads were sealed off, and security measures were implemented after the blasts.
The explosions come as Macron is visiting Syria with a business delegation to discuss regional security as well as business and investment opportunities.
The French president was greeted at Damascus International Airport by the top diplomat of Syria’s ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime, Asaad al-Shibani, on Monday.
According to Syrian media, Macron’s visit will include a roundtable meeting between the French leader, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, and their respective delegations at the presidential palace.
The visit is of great significance as Jolani is a former commander of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, who led foreign-backed militant forces to topple Assad in December 2024.
It also casts doubts on Syria’s geopolitical transformation under the HTS-led regime after 13 years of foreign-sponsored militancy.
On July 2, an explosion at a cafe in central Damascus killed at least nine people and injured 20 others.
Syrian security sources said the blast was caused by an explosive device.
Footage from the site showed severe damage to the cafe with blood smeared on the floor.
