Explosions Near Macron’s Hotel in Damascus Injure 18

Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, wounding 18 people just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron had departed the building for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Macron was unharmed and his landmark visit continued as scheduled, the Élysée Palace confirmed.

The Attack

The Syrian Interior Ministry reported that two improvised explosive devices — one placed inside a parked car and the other concealed in a garbage container — exploded while security forces were attempting to dismantle them. According to BBC News, BBC Verify analysis located the blasts approximately 125 metres from the Four Seasons hotel on a major thoroughfare running through the Syrian capital. A second device detonated near Victoria Bridge, roughly 200 metres from the hotel.

Eighteen people were wounded in the attack, including four police officers. No fatalities were immediately reported. Witness Hamam Hammoud, a 37-year-old employee at a money exchange company, told Euronews: “I saw three traffic police officers injured on the ground, before the area was evacuated and the roads leading to it were closed.”

Macron’s Status

President Macron had already left the hotel and was en route to the presidential palace when the explosions occurred. The Élysée Palace confirmed he did not hear the blasts and that his visit “continues as planned.” Macron met with al-Sharaa at the presidential palace as scheduled, where discussions focused on reconstruction, investment, and bilateral relations.

In a defiant social media post following the explosions, Macron wrote: “Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria. This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage, and determination. My visit continues.”

A Historic Visit

Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, becoming the first Western European head of state to visit Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The last French president to visit the country was Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, before the 2011 uprising and subsequent civil war. As France 24 reported, Macron was accompanied by major French business leaders including Rodolphe Saade, CEO of CMA CGM, and TotalEnergies head Patrick Pouyanne, signalling strong interest in Syria’s reconstruction — a market estimated to require hundreds of billions of dollars.

The visit follows a period of significant diplomatic engagement. In May 2025, Macron hosted al-Sharaa in Paris for his first official visit to a European country, and the US and EU subsequently dropped most sanctions on Syria. Al-Sharaa later visited Washington to meet President Donald Trump.

Security Challenges

The explosions represent the second major security incident in central Damascus within a week. On July 2, a bomb blast at a crowded cafe near the Palace of Justice killed 10 people, including six lawyers, and wounded 22 others. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack.

The incidents underscore the significant security challenges facing Syria’s new authorities under al-Sharaa, a former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who has sought to rebrand as a moderate leader. The Islamic State group has claimed a series of attacks on government targets in recent months, and sectarian violence in Alawite and Druze heartlands killed hundreds in 2025.

Broader Implications

The attack tests the viability of Western re-engagement with post-Assad Syria at a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Macron is scheduled to travel to Ankara on Tuesday evening for the NATO summit, where Syria is expected to feature prominently on the agenda. The White House has indicated that President Trump will meet al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the summit.

According to Al-Monitor, ordinary Syrians have largely welcomed the diplomatic opening. Diala Akkashe, a 33-year-old dressmaker, told the outlet: “If Syria wasn’t safe and stable, no president or foreign official would take the risk of coming.”

What’s Next

With no group claiming responsibility, the investigation into the explosions remains ongoing. Key questions include whether Macron was the intended target — the devices were placed near where he had spent the night — and how they evaded security at a high-profile location. Macron’s decision to continue his visit signals that France will not be deterred by security threats, but the incident is likely to shape discussions at this week’s NATO summit about the pace and nature of Western re-engagement with Syria’s new authorities.