A series of explosions struck Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s historic visit to Syria
July 7, 2026: A series of explosions shook the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Tuesday during French President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark visit to the country. The blasts occurred near the hotel where Macron had been staying, prompting security forces to seal off nearby roads and launch an investigation. French officials confirmed that the president was safe, as he had already left the hotel for scheduled meetings before the explosions took place.
The French presidency said Macron had travelled to the presidential palace for talks with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa when the explosions occurred. Syrian state television later showed the French leader being formally welcomed at the palace, indicating that his official engagements continued as planned. Authorities have not yet revealed the cause of the explosions or confirmed whether there were any casualties.
Macron’s visit marks the first by a European Union leader to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024. France is seeking to deepen diplomatic engagement with Syria as regional tensions ease following recent conflicts in the Middle East. After concluding his meetings in Damascus, Macron is scheduled to travel to Ankara for the NATO summit, accompanied by a delegation of French business leaders focused on expanding economic cooperation.