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A brace of explosions rocked nan Syrian superior of Damascus adjacent nan downtown Four Seasons hotel, wherever French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during a authorities visit, Syrian authorities media reported Tuesday.
Eighteen people, including 4 constabulary officers, were injured by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) connected Tuesday, Syria's interior ministry reported done state outlet SANA.
According to nan ministry, some bombs exploded aft information forces had discovered them, "while preparations for nan disposal cognition were underway."
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The bombs were placed wrong a car and a garbage tin adjacent nan edifice wherever Macron was staying during his visit, nan first Syrian authorities visit by nan leader of a Western state since Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa took complete for nan now-deposed erstwhile President Bashar al-Assad successful 2025.
A spokesperson for Élysée Palace said Macron was not successful his edifice during nan explosions and didn't moreover perceive them. He continued his sojourn pinch al-Sharaa, according to some Élysée Palace and SANA.
France's President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands pinch Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa astatine nan People's Palace successful Damascus, Syria, July 7, 2026. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano)
While not commenting connected nan explosions directly, Macron posted a connection connected X soon aft nan incident.
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"Nothing tin smother nan aspiration of Syrian women and men to unrecorded successful a afloat sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and agreed Syria. This greeting I met Syria successful each its diversity. I saw dignity, courage, and determination. My sojourn continues," he wrote.
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa greets supporters aft gathering pinch President Donald Trump astatine nan White House successful Washington, D.C., NOV. 10, 2025. (Lubna Allababidi/Handout via REUTERS)
Syria's Ministry of nan Interior confirmed nan explosions but stressed that they were extracurricular nan information perimeter designated for Macron.
"We corroborate that nan detonation tract is extracurricular nan information perimeter designated for nan French president’s residence. It posed nary nonstop threat to nan residence aliases nan charismatic sojourn program, which is proceeding arsenic planned," nan ministry announced done SANA.
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An ambulance drives past nan tract wherever explosive devices blew up adjacent a edifice wherever French President Emmanuel Macron was meant to beryllium staying, successful Damascus, Syria, July 7, 2026. (REUTERS/Yamam Al Shaar)
Macron is nan first Western leader to meet pinch al-Sharaa successful Damascus since he became nan country's president successful 2025. Some person criticized Western leaders, including President Donald Trump, who hosted al-Sharaa successful nan White House successful November, for normalizing relations pinch al-Sharaa fixed his past arsenic a combatant for nan al Qaeda violent group.
Tuesday's explosions successful Damascus were besides nan 2nd and 3rd awesome blasts successful Damascus successful little than a week.
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On Monday, France's authorities condemned what it called a "terrorist attack" aft an explosive instrumentality killed astatine slightest 9 group successful a Damascus cafe connected July 2.
Syrian authorities are still investigating nan onslaught and person not publically ascribed it to immoderate group aliases individual, according to The Washington Post.
Fox News Digital contacted nan Syrian Foreign Ministry and Élysée Palace for confirmation and further details.
