Explosions in Damascus wound people as French President Macron meets Syrian President al-Sharaa

Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday while French President Emmanuel Macron was in Syria, with Syria reporting casualties as the French leader was conducting meetings with President Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to the French president’s office. NPR reported that at least four people were wounded. French officials said Macron was safe and that his meeting with al-Sharaa would continue as scheduled.

The incident unfolded during Macron’s visit to Damascus, the French office said. Macron’s security posture at the time indicated the visit was proceeding under close protection, and the French statement stressed that the president faced no danger. The office did not provide details on the blasts’ cause or any suspected perpetrators.

Several outlets also reported that the explosions occurred in the vicinity of the Four Seasons Hotel, where Macron was reportedly staying, and that Syria’s Interior Ministry had given higher casualty figures. Those additional details were not confirmed in the NPR report and therefore are not included here as established facts. French officials and Syrian authorities did not immediately release further information explaining what was hit or whether any property damage occurred.

Diplomatically, Macron’s visit places France directly into the early phase of engagement with Syria’s current leadership under al-Sharaa. The immediate effect of the blasts was operational rather than rhetorical: French officials said Macron remained in place and that the meeting with al-Sharaa continued. That message appeared aimed at maintaining continuity of the talks amid a security disruption in the capital.

By midday, the available reporting focused on public safety and the confirmation that Macron was unharmed. Syr ian sources, including the Interior Ministry as reflected in media accounts, reported casualties among civilians or responders, though exact numbers varied across reports. An investigation into the blasts was underway in the accounts that described the incident’s timing and proximity to the hotel area.