Blasts rock Damascus during French President Macron's visit

Bombs exploded near the hotel where Emmanuel Macron was staying in Syria on Tuesday, a security source said.

But the French president did not hear the explosions, the Elysee said, and he met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa soon afterwards.

The blasts underscore the major security challenges in Syria, where Macron is the first head of state of a European Union country to visit since rebels led by Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

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.

Meanwhile, a Syrian security source told AFP one of the bombs was placed in a dumpster and the other in a vehicle near the Four Seasons Hotel.

The French president had already left the hotel for the presidential palace, where he is meeting Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa, according to an AFP team on the scene.

The Elysee said the blasts were not audible from the presidential motorcade and a Reuters journalist with the press group accompanying Macron did not hear the blast or see any commotion during the French president’s morning events.

State television later reported that Macron and Sharaa had met at the Syrian Presidential Palace.