On July 7, 2026, explosions shook Damascus, Syria, injuring at least 18 individuals. This occurred as French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace. These incidents marked the second attack in the city within a week, posing a challenge to al-Sharaa’s leadership.
The Syrian Interior Ministry reported that the blasts were a setback as they welcomed the first major Western leader since Bashar Assad’s downfall in late 2024. Though violence persists, the capital had mostly remained calm. Macron was unscathed and continued his meeting, according to an official at the Elysee Palace who discussed Macron’s security anonymously.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Later, Macron shared his thoughts on X, emphasizing Syria’s sovereignty and the people’s courage. His visit underlined a push to have Europe and the US lift most sanctions once imposed on Syria under Assad. Macron and al-Sharaa were set to hold a joint news conference before Macron’s departure to a NATO summit in Turkey.
A significant smoke plume rose near the Four Seasons Hotel, reportedly where Macron was staying. Social media footage displayed a van and motorcycle ablaze, with bloodstains evident near the Ministry of Tourism and the Damascus National Museum. Authorities stated one bomb was in a garbage bin and another in a parked car, with four police officers among the wounded but no fatalities reported.
Earlier, a device exploded in a cafe near the Justice Palace, killing at least 10 and wounding over 20. Despite these attacks, Syria’s new government views Macron’s visit as beneficial, with more than a dozen agreements signed with France, enhancing recovery efforts post a 14-year conflict.
Key agreements included the return of assets worth 51 million euros linked to Rifaat Assad, and plans for rebuilding Homs’ water and power infrastructure. Further, France will aid Syria’s Central Bank with financial reforms and improve cargo infrastructure at Damascus airport.
A Syrian foreign ministry official, speaking anonymously, emphasized Syria’s progress toward forging international partnerships. Attempts to destabilize Syria would not derail this path, they added.
The explosions are an obstacle for al-Sharaa, who seeks to consolidate control, reach out to minorities, and gain Western approval. His administration has pledged political and economic reforms following decades of autocratic leadership. Syria remains in need of extensive rebuilding, with millions still impoverished despite international investment interests.
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