An explosion went off near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, the place French President Emmanuel Macron had spent the evening forward of a gathering together with his Syrian counterpart, in line with French and Syrian media.
Macron was unhurt and was already on the Presidential Palace when the explosions occurred, the Élysée Palace mentioned in a press release. France’s BFMTV, NCS affiliate, mentioned he had been staying on the Four Seasons hotel.
Two separate blasts have been reported in Damascus, in line with state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). They occurred whereas safety officers have been attempting to dismantle two explosive gadgets discovered throughout discipline operations, the company added. At least 18 folks have been injured, together with 4 cops, SANA mentioned.
One explosion occurred subsequent to the Four Seasons within the coronary heart of the capital and one other blast went off beside the close by Ministry of Tourism, a Syrian official instructed NCS on situation of anonymity. The hotel is commonly utilized by abroad guests to Syria, together with diplomats, NGO staff and journalists.
The website of the explosion was “outside the security perimeter” designated for Macron’s residence, SANA reported, citing Syria’s Ministry of Interior.
Both explosive gadgets have been made “in a primitive way,” in line with SANA. The first system was positioned inside a automobile parked on the facet of the highway, whereas the second was planted inside a rubbish container, the information company mentioned.
Authorities launched an investigation to find out the circumstances of the assault and establish these concerned, added SANA.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday night native time to satisfy the nation’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, SANA mentioned, marking the primary official go to by a Western chief to the nation because the fall of the Assad regime in December, 2024. He is the third head of state to go to Syria in that point, after the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited in January, 2025 and April of this 12 months, respectively.
The twin explosions early Tuesday happened lower than every week after 9 folks have been killed and 22 others injured in a separate assault within the Syrian capital, in line with Syria’s Ministry of Health.