Explosions rock Syria's capital Damascus during French President Macron's visit

Multiple explosions struck Damascus on Tuesday, July 7, near the Four Seasons hotel, where French President Emmanuel Macron was reportedly lodged. The blasts, which involved two improvised explosive devices, resulted in at least 18 injuries, including four police officers. President Macron was confirmed to be safe and unharmed, as he was at the presidential palace meeting his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, when the incidents occurred.

The attacks did not disrupt the scheduled high-level talks, which continued despite the security incident. Macron's visit to Syria marks a significant diplomatic event, as he is the first major Western leader to visit the country since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosions.