BETwo explosions occurred near Damascus, close to French President Emmanuel Macron's hotel during his visit to Syria. The blasts took place outside the Ministry of Tourism, near the Four Seasons Hotel, where Macron had meetings. According to Syria's Ministry of the Interior, 18 people were injured, including four police officers. The attacks involved two improvised explosive devices—one hidden in a trash container and the other in a parked car that detonated near an ambulance. This visit marked the first time a European head of state had visited Damascus since 2024, following the end of Bashar al-Assad's administration and the establishment of a new government seeking improved relations with Western countries.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of the explosions and their context without overtly favoring any political side. It includes quotes from an Elysée official and reports from the Syrian Ministry of the Interior, presenting both the event and its geopolitical significance neutrally.
