Is Macron Safe? Explosive Devices Detonate Near Hotel Housing French President in Damascus; 3 Reportedly Dead

Two bombs exploded near the hotel in Damascus where Emmanuel Macron held meetings on Tuesday, Syrian state media said, but the French president’s office said he did not hear the explosions and he met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa soon afterwards. The blasts underscore the major security challenges in Syria, where Macron is the first head of state of a major European Union country to visit since rebels led by Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The explosions struck a busy area between the Syrian tourism ministry and the national museum across the street from the Four Seasons, where Macron was meeting civil society groups.

Blast Near Hotel Housing France President Macron in Damascus

Syria’s state news agency reported that 18 people were injured in the explosions, including four police officers.

WATCH : Newly released footage captures the exact moment the second blast went off in the Syrian capital

This development comes as Iraqi media outlets report the Damascus detonations may have been an inside job involving the General Security Service.

The targeted zone had been… pic.twitter.com/FrMC4MbDGi

— Inside the conflict (@InsidConflict) July 7, 2026

The first blast hit soon after Macron’s motorcade left for the presidential palace. Reuters footage showed flames and smoke billowing from a trash can when a second explosion was caught on camera a few metres (yards) away.

The second blast went off next to an ambulance parked at the scene, where some two dozen people had gathered.

Flames and thick black smoke were seen billowing from close to the shops behind, as emergency personnel worked to put out the blaze.

Videos showed Macron’s motorcade heading along a highway towards the presidential palace before the blasts. Photographs then showed him standing alongside Sharaa and meeting other Syrian officials and military officers.

New footage pic.twitter.com/dyMtA15vzz

— Inside the conflict (@InsidConflict) July 7, 2026

Search Operations Launched

Internal security forces have launched search operations to identify those responsible, Syria’s state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV cited a security source as saying. Roads were sealed off and security measures were implemented after the blasts, a security source told Reuters.

The French Presidency said the blasts were not audible from the presidential motorcade and a Reuters journalist with the press group accompanying Macron did not hear the blast or see any commotion during the French president’s morning events.

The presidency said he intended to stick to his planned schedule for the day.

𝗦𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁

Syrian Interior Ministry issued a statement that,” Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Ministry of Tourism in Damascus, leaving 18 people injured, including 4 police officers. Security forces discovered the devices and were preparing to defuse them when they exploded. One device had been placed in a parked car and the other in a rubbish bin.”

The statement further added, “A security cordon was imposed around the site while specialised units conducted search and security operations. Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible. The blast site was outside the security perimeter for French President Emmanuel Macron’s residence and posed no direct threat to his accommodation or official visit, which is continuing as scheduled.”

Inputs from Reuters

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