Bombs near Damascus hotel cast shadow over Macron’s Syria visit

DAMASCUS: Two bombs exploded on Tuesday in a central Damascus area near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had stayed overnight, injuring 18 people and casting a shadow over the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.

Macron’s motorcade had left the hotel shortly before the blasts, and he continued with his schedule, meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace. Macron’s office said the French president did not hear the explosions.

The blasts struck a busy part of the capital between the Tourism Ministry and the national museum, across from the Four Seasons hotel. A source in Macron’s delegation and Syrian security officials said he had spent the night there and had also met civil society representatives on Tuesday morning.

Reuters video from the scene showed flames and smoke rising after the first explosion, before a second blast was captured on camera a few metres away. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Sharaa said an investigation was under way.

Visit proceeds despite attack

Posting on X shortly after the explosions, Macron said his trip would go on and praised the Syrians he had met for their dignity, courage and determination. Later, at a joint news conference with Sharaa, he said security risks remained but were being handled.

Speaking alongside the Syrian president, Macron said the attack highlighted efforts by some factions to block Syria’s broader return to the international community. "We are not naive about the risks, but they are being managed."

Macron also said France was working to reshape its security and military cooperation with Syria. He said this could include possible backing from French special forces in operations against Islamic State, which has claimed several attacks on Syrian forces this year.

The attack also underscored the continuing security pressures facing Sharaa, identified as a former al Qaeda commander who has developed close links with Western countries while seeking to rebuild a country devastated by 13 years of civil war.

Economic and diplomatic agenda

Macron, who last year led calls for Western sanctions on Syria to be lifted, was accompanied by French business executives including the heads of TotalEnergies and shipping firm CMA CGM. He said France was prepared to assist in rebuilding Syria’s economy and banking system.

The Elysee said CMA CGM signed a partnership agreement with Syria that includes air cargo freight handling at Damascus airport. France and Syria would begin a process to return to Syria assets worth €51 million, or $58.3 million, that had been confiscated from the late Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of Bashar al-Assad.

TotalEnergies chief executive said the company would discuss a possible offshore exploration contract with Syrian authorities. However, he said the security situation still meant a return to onshore oil operations was not yet a workable option.