Explosions occurred near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus on Tuesday, a security source said, highlighting the security challenges in Syria as Macron became the first European Union head of state to visit since rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Blasts Near Hotel
A Reuters witness heard explosions in the vicinity and saw smoke rising. Roads were sealed off and security measures were implemented, the security source said. However, the Elysee said Macron did not hear the explosions from the presidential motorcade, and a Reuters journalist accompanying the press group did not hear the blast or see any commotion during the French president's morning events.
Meeting with al-Sharaa
State television later reported that Macron and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met at the Syrian Presidential Palace. Macron's visit underscores Syria's geopolitical transformation under Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that shunned Assad, as he seeks to rebuild a country shattered by 13 years of war.
Security Challenges
During the Syrian conflict, a range of militant groups including Islamic State gained a foothold in the country. Sharaa, a member of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, has pledged to build an inclusive new order since ending more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by the Assad family. But his promise has been tested by bouts of violence pitting pro-government forces against members of religious and ethnic minority groups, with many hundreds killed last year, according to reports.
