Explosions in Damascus during Macron visit – President unharmed, talks with Ahmad al-Chareh continue

Damascus – 07.07.2026: In the Syrian capital Damascus, several explosions near the Four Seasons hotel shook the city center on the morning of July 7. The French president Emmanuel Macron had been staying there during his official visit. According to consistent agency reports, he was already on his way to the presidential palace at the time of the detonations. He remained unharmed.

Authorities and international news agencies reported that several people were injured in the incidents; preliminary estimates speak of around 18 injured. Syrian officials referred to multiple explosive devices. Reliable information on perpetrators or motive was not initially available. Reporters described smoke and a rapid deployment of emergency and security forces in the affected neighborhood.

Macron is holding talks in Damascus with Ahmad al-Chareh, who has been serving as head of state since 2024. It is the first visit by a leading Western European head of state to Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. According to French sources, the stabilization of the security situation, reconstruction issues and possible economic cooperation are on the agenda. Al-Chareh has signaled that he wants to make France one of his country’s main trading partners. Paris simultaneously points to the need for robust guarantees for security, the rule of law and the protection of civilians.

Despite the detonations, Macron continued his appointments at the presidential palace. The Élysée emphasized that the visit would proceed as planned and that protective measures on site had been adjusted. Security experts interpret the proximity of the explosions to the guest hotel as an indication of the still fragile situation in the capital, where rival groups have repeatedly carried out attacks in the past. For international delegations, coordination between local security services and foreign protection teams remains crucial.

The incidents also bring into focus the debate over the pace and conditions for normalizing relations with Syria. European actors typically tie economic engagement to progress on political reforms and to reliable frameworks for aid and investment projects. In addition to security risks, companies point to sanctions regimes, insurability and the condition of infrastructure as central factors. Observers consider it likely that partner countries will review threat assessments and travel restrictions following the explosions.

Investigations are ongoing; Damascus and Paris pledged cooperation in clarifying the events. Until secure findings are available, information on those responsible and the sequence of events remains provisional. Further information is expected from the Syrian authorities and the Élysée over the course of the day.