Bomb Blasts Injure 18 as Macron Visits Damascus

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:12:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Macron visits Damascus amid bomb blasts that injure 18, highlighting renewed security risks as he meets Syria's new president.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in Damascus for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa when two bomb devices detonated nearby, injuring 18 people. Syrian authorities say a vehicle bomb and a bin‑concealed device went off near the hotel where Macron stayed, though the French leader remained safe. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Syria, where militant groups and inter‑ethnic tensions still pose threats to the nation’s stability. Macron’s visit marks the first EU leader to come to Syria since its 2024 government was established, signalling a new international engagement period for the country.

Bomb Blasts Injure 18 as Macron Visits Damascus

French President Emmanuel Macron was in Syria’s capital, Damascus, for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa when two explosive devices detonated near the hotel where the French leader stayed. Official accounts from Syrian state news agency Sana say a vehicle‑borne bomb and a bin‑concealed bomb exploded, injuring 18 people – most of them security officers shot by on‑lookers and paramilitary police.

The blasts happened while Macron’s entourage was on the way to the presidential palace. In his post‑visit statement, Macron said he did not hear the explosions and praised Syria’s “aspiration for a sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united nation.”

This incident shows the lingering security challenges in Syria. Militant groups including ISIS have claimed attacks on government targets in recent months, and the government‑affiliated pro‑government forces have been involved in violence against minority groups. Experts say that even diplomatic visits remain risky until safer conditions are established across the country.

Macron’s trip is the first by an EU leader to Syria since the new government under President al‑Sharaa took power in December 2024, marking a new phase of international engagement for the war‑torn country.