Two Blasts Near Macron’s Damascus Hotel Injure 18 During Syria Visit

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published July 7, 2026

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Two explosions near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron had stayed injured 18 people on Tuesday, casting a security shadow over his high-profile visit to Syria.

According to Syrian state media, the blasts occurred near the Ministry of Tourism in central Damascus. Syria’s Interior Ministry said 18 people were injured, including four police officers, after two explosive devices detonated in the area. The ministry said the incident did not pose a threat to Macron’s official visit, which continued as scheduled.

Reuters reported that the bombs exploded near the hotel where Macron had spent the night. The French president’s motorcade had left the hotel shortly before the blasts, and Macron later continued his programme, meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace.

Syrian authorities said the devices were crudely made, with one reportedly placed in a parked vehicle and another in a trash container. Roads around the area were sealed off after the explosions, while security forces and emergency teams moved in to secure the scene and assist the wounded.

The Élysée Palace said Macron was safe. Associated Press reported that the French president proceeded with his talks in Damascus despite the explosions, as France and Syria moved to restore diplomatic ties by agreeing to reappoint ambassadors after more than a decade.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts. The incident comes only days after a separate explosion at a café near the Palace of Justice in Damascus killed nine people and wounded 20 others, according to Syrian authorities.

Macron’s visit is politically significant, marking the first visit by a major European Union head of state to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The blasts underline the fragile security situation facing Syria’s new leadership as it seeks international recognition, reconstruction support and a return to diplomatic engagement with Western capitals.