French President Emmanuel Macron is unharmed after explosions rocked Damascus during his historic diplomatic visit to Syria. The Elysee Palace confirmed he did not hear the blasts near the Four Seasons hotel where he was staying.
Witnesses reported smoke and the sounds of multiple detonations in central Damascus. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Macron's visit marks the first by a Western European head of state since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. He met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as scheduled to discuss regional stability and economic cooperation.
The French delegation is positioning for involvement in Syria's reconstruction economy, representing significant potential for infrastructure and energy investment after more than 13 years of civil conflict.