Explosions Rock Damascus Amid Macron's Visit, Injuring Multiple Individuals

Explosions Near Ministry of Tourism

Damascus, July 7: On Tuesday afternoon, two blasts occurred near the Ministry of Tourism in Syria's capital, resulting in injuries to 18 individuals, including four police officers, as reported by local media citing the Interior Ministry's latest updates.

The explosions coincided with a scheduled meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace.

Macron, who arrived in Damascus on Monday, marks the first significant European leader to visit the war-affected nation since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

According to the Interior Ministry, the Internal Security Forces had identified two explosive devices during their operations, but they detonated while preparations for their dismantling were underway.

Initial assessments indicated that the devices were crudely constructed. One was hidden in a parked vehicle, while the other was located in a garbage bin. Investigations are ongoing to determine the details of the attack and identify those responsible.

Reports from various media outlets suggest that the blasts occurred near the hotel where Macron is believed to be staying.

In a statement, the French President's office confirmed that Macron was unharmed and that his visit would proceed as planned, according to French daily Le Monde.

Earlier, on July 3, a bombing at a café near the Justice Palace in central Damascus resulted in nine fatalities and 20 injuries. Authorities labeled this incident a terrorist attack involving an improvised explosive device weighing approximately one kilogram, filled with metal fragments. Forensic teams are currently analyzing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses.

On July 4, Syrian authorities reported thwarting another bombing attempt targeting a passenger bus in a suburb of Damascus.

This attempted bombing followed an attack on Friday that injured three security personnel at a checkpoint in the Jaramana suburb of Damascus.