Syrian authorities reported that one person was killed and 36 others wounded following explosions in Damascus on July 7, 2026, coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the Syrian capital.
The blasts occurred near the Ministry of Tourism and the Four Seasons Hotel, where Macron had stayed the previous night. According to Syria’s Ministry of Interior, one bomb was placed inside a car parked on the side of a road, and a second device was planted in a rubbish container.
The Ministry of Health stated that among the wounded, 31 sustained minor injuries, while five were hospitalized in stable condition. Macron had already left the hotel for Syria’s presidential palace at the time of the explosions and did not hear them, according to his office.
Macron continued his visit despite the attacks, emphasizing that Syria must not be "destabilised" by such incidents. Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani described Macron’s visit as a "pivotal point" in bilateral relations, highlighting the signing of 15 agreements covering civil aviation, health, banking, water infrastructure, and roads.
This visit marks the first by a European Union head of state to Syria since the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad. Macron’s trip precedes an upcoming NATO summit in Turkiye.
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