Damascus, Syria. Bombs exploded near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Syria on Tuesday, according to a security source, but the Elysee said he did not hear the blasts and he later met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The incident highlighted ongoing security challenges in Syria during Macron’s visit, the first by a European Union head of state since rebels led by Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Explosions reported near hotel
A Reuters witness heard explosions in the area and saw smoke rising. A security source said roads were sealed off and security measures were put in place.
The Elysee said the blasts were not audible from the presidential motorcade. A Reuters journalist traveling with the press group accompanying Macron also did not hear the explosions or observe any disturbance during the French president’s morning events.
Macron meets Syrian president
State television later reported that Macron and Sharaa met at the Syrian Presidential Palace.
Macron’s visit has drawn attention to Syria’s geopolitical shift under Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who has developed close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that had shunned Assad, as he seeks to rebuild the country after 13 years of war.
Security and political challenges
During the Syrian conflict, several militant groups, including Islamic State, established a presence in the country.
Sharaa, who belongs to Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority, has pledged to create an inclusive new order after ending more than five decades of Assad family rule. That promise has been tested by outbreaks of violence involving pro-government forces and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, with many hundreds killed last year.