Explosions Rock Damascus During Macron's Visit to Syria

Two explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on Tuesday during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria, wounding at least 18 people, including four police officers. Macron was unharmed and was already at the presidential palace meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa when the blasts occurred near the hotel where he had spent the night. Syrian authorities said security forces had detected the devices and were trying to defuse them when they exploded. Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in 2024.