Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons hotel in Damascus on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, wounding at least 18 people, according to Syrian authorities. The blasts did not interrupt Macron's visit, but they dealt a blow to Syria's new rulers' efforts to project stability and attract foreign investment since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Blasts target well-guarded hotel hosting foreign dignitaries
The Four Seasons hotel, which hosts UN staff and foreign diplomats, is one of the most heavily guarded facilities in the Syrian capital. Macron was reported to be staying there during his visit, but he was at the presidential palace for a meeting with Sharaa when the explosions occurred. Syrian state media published images of the two presidents embracing at the palace, indicating the visit proceeded as planned.
Syrian Interior Ministry officials said one IED was placed in a bin, wounding four police officers, while another was hidden in a parked car. A video of one explosion showed officers standing near the bin moments before it detonated. The ministry stated that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible.
Macron's visit marks first by major Western leader since Assad's fall
Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria since Assad was forced out. His meeting with Sharaa is seen as a significant recognition of the new government, which has sought to distance itself from its past as Islamist fighters in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group that evolved from al-Qaida. France has been a key supporter of Sharaa's rule, pushing for sanctions relief and mediating between Syria and Israel.
Following the explosions, Macron posted on X: “Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic and united Syria. This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage and determination.”
Diplomatic and economic agreements signed
Macron and Sharaa announced the designation of ambassadors, resuming diplomatic ties severed by France in 2012 after Assad's crackdown on protests. Macron was accompanied by an economic delegation including Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of shipping conglomerate CMA CGM, and Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies. French companies signed over a dozen agreements, including rebuilding water and electricity infrastructure in Homs, providing technical assistance to Syria's central bank, and capacity building for Damascus airport with CMA CGM.
Another agreement initiated the return of £43.6 million in illicit assets taken from Syria by Rifaat al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's late uncle, who fled to France after attempting a coup against Assad's father.
Security challenges persist amid economic crisis
The explosions follow a similar attack last Thursday, when an IED in a busy cafe near the Justice Palace in Damascus killed at least 10 and wounded over 20. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Syria has faced violence from various armed groups, including Islamic State and remnants of the Assad regime. Damascus had largely been spared until recently, even as kidnappings and assassinations occurred elsewhere.
Beyond security, Syria's main challenge is economic recovery after 14 years of war and crushing sanctions. About 90% of the population lives in poverty, and infrastructure is in dire need of repair. Basic services like electricity are inconsistent, even in Damascus.
This article was amended on 7 July 2026 to correct the name of Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of CMA CGM, previously misnamed as Jacques Saadé.
