Explosions injure 18 in Damascus during Macron's visit

Explosions rocked central Damascus on Tuesday during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. Syria’s Interior Ministry said multiple blasts near the Four Seasons hotel injured at least 18 people. Reports placed the incident near the targeted area where Macron is staying, but the blasts occurred while Macron was meeting Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Sharaa in the presidential palace.

Authorities said Macron and al-Sharaa were unharmed. Police and security forces cordoned off the area and carried out search operations. The explosions were described as involving devices placed in and around a parked vehicle and a roadside garbage container near major buildings in the city.

The attack came days after another bombing in Damascus left 10 people dead at a cafe near the Justice Ministry. No group claimed responsibility for the violence at the time of reporting, and officials said the explosions did not pose a direct threat to Macron’s residence or the official visit, which continued as scheduled.