Rabat – Reports have confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron is safe after two bomb explosions near a hotel hosting him for a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus on Tuesday.
Reports said the French president’s office confirmed Macron did not hear the explosions and met al-Sharaa shortly afterward.
Macron is the first major EU head of state to visit Syria, which has been pledging a transitional phase post-al-Assad era.
Reports said the explosions struck a busy area between the Syrian Tourism Ministry and the National Museum, across the street from the Four Seasons hotel.
Reuters said 18 people were injured in the explosions.
An investigation is ongoing to identify the suspects
Syria, under al-Sharaa, has vowed to establish a new order in the country following the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
After Syria, Macron is expected to visit Turkey for the NATO summit.
The Elysée confirmed that the visit will continue “as planned.”
US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the summit alongside his NATO counterparts for two days.
The summit aims to reaffirm the commitment of its 32 member countries to security cooperation.
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host the summit at the Bestepe Presidential Complex in Ankara. Foreign ministers attending the summit will also hold a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, along with a separate session with officials from Gulf Arab countries. During the meeting, Trump is expected to meet with al-Sharaa.
