Explosions Near Macron’s Lodgings in Damascus: President Continues Visit, Élysée Confirms He Is Unharmed

Damascus – 07.07.2026: In the Syrian capital, two explosions occurred on Tuesday morning in the immediate vicinity of the Four Seasons Hotel where France’s President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his state visit. According to consistent agency reports and statements from Syrian authorities, several people were injured. The extent of the damage in the affected downtown area remained unclear at first; security forces cordoned off streets and diverted traffic across a wide area.

The Élysée Palace said Macron was unharmed. His appointments would continue “as planned.” Accordingly, the president met the same day with Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Charaa for political talks. According to French government sources, the topics were primarily the security situation in the capital, regional stability, and humanitarian access to Syrian provinces. No concrete agreements were announced initially.

Syrian authorities confirmed that investigators were collecting traces at the explosion site and analyzing video recordings. Whether these were coordinated attacks remained uncertain into the evening. Official casualty figures fluctuated in the first hours; local hospitals reported several dozen injured with lacerations and blast injuries. Eyewitnesses described plumes of smoke over the central district and a large deployment of police, military, and emergency services.

The French delegation traveled with heightened personal security. The outer security perimeter around the hotel was temporarily adjusted and additional checks were set up at access roads. French security circles emphasized that such adjustments are common practice on foreign trips when the situation changes at short notice. Syrian authorities also increased their presence in government districts and at key junctions in the city center.

Macron’s visit to Damascus had been closely watched beforehand because of the fragile security situation and the complex political landscape in Syria. International observers view the decision not to cut the visit short as a signal of operational capability and as an attempt to keep channels of dialogue open despite the risks. Paris has long pointed to the need for coordinated approaches on security issues, for example in the fight against remaining jihadist networks, and to humanitarian support for the civilian population.

There were no confirmed indications on Tuesday about who was responsible. No group immediately claimed responsibility, nor did authorities comment on a possible motive. According to initial information, the investigation is focusing on analyzing the explosive devices and reconstructing the sequence of events in the minutes before the detonations. Further official statements were expected during the evening.