2 bombs wound 18 in Damascus during Macron’s Syria visit
What’s new: The blasts hit near Macron’s hotel after his motorcade left, underscoring the security risks facing Syria’s new authorities.
Two bombs exploded near the Damascus hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was holding meetings on Tuesday, injuring 18 people, including four police officers, Syrian state media reported. The blasts struck a busy area between the tourism ministry and the national museum, across from the Four Seasons, shortly after Macron’s motorcade left for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. France said Macron did not hear the explosions and continued his schedule. The attack came during the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Assad was toppled in 2024, highlighting persistent instability as Sharaa seeks to rebuild the country and deepen ties with Western governments.