Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, wounding at least 18 people as French President Emmanuel Macron visited Syria. The hotel, which houses UN staff and foreign diplomats, is among the most heavily guarded facilities in the Syrian capital.
Macron was meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace when the blasts occurred. State television broadcast images of the two leaders embracing, and French officials confirmed that Macron remained unharmed. The explosions did not disrupt the planned schedule of meetings.
A video of one explosion showed Syrian police officers standing near a trash bin moments before it detonated, wounding four officers. The Syrian interior ministry reported that the second IED was placed in a parked vehicle. No deaths were recorded in Tuesday's attacks, though the ministry said an investigation was underway to identify those responsible.
The timing presented a significant setback for Syria's new government, which has worked to project stability and attract foreign investment since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria under the new administration, a visit viewed as recognition of President Sharaa's rule.
Sharaa and his government have sought to distance themselves from their past as fighters in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group with origins in al-Qaeda. France has been among the most supportive Western governments of the new Syrian leadership, pushing the United States to lift sanctions and helping mediate between Syria and Israel.
Macron is accompanied by an economic delegation, including Jacques Saadé, head of the shipping conglomerate CMA CGM and a person of Syrian origin. The French president is expected to sign memorandums of understanding intended to boost investor confidence in Syria, which faces severe economic challenges after 14 years of war. Around 90 percent of Syrians live in poverty, and the country's infrastructure requires extensive repairs. Basic services including electricity remain inconsistent in many areas.
The explosions came only days after another IED detonated at a cafe near the Justice Palace, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 20. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Syria has recently experienced violence from various armed groups, including Islamic State and factions linked to the former regime, though Damascus had largely been spared from attacks until this week.
The interior ministry said it was investigating the source of the explosions as Macron's delegation continued its visit to the Syrian capital.