Two explosions occurred near the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Damascus on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, injuring 18 people, including four police officers, according to Syrian state media. French President Emmanuel Macron was staying at the hotel during a state visit to Syria. The bombs were reportedly placed in a car and a garbage can.
Syria's interior ministry stated that the explosions happened after security forces discovered the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and while preparations for their disposal were underway. The ministry confirmed the blasts occurred outside the security perimeter designated for the French president's residence and posed no direct threat to the visit, which was proceeding as planned.
A spokesperson for Élysée Palace confirmed that Macron was not in his hotel at the time of the explosions and did not hear them. He continued his scheduled activities with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Macron, the first leader from a Western country to make a state visit to Syria since al-Sharaa assumed the presidency in 2025, posted a statement on X shortly after the incident. "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. My visit continues," he wrote.
Al-Sharaa took over as president in 2025, succeeding Bashar al-Assad. His meeting with Macron in Damascus marked a significant diplomatic engagement. Notably, al-Sharaa had previously met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in November 2025. Some critics have raised concerns about normalizing relations with al-Sharaa, citing his past association with the al Qaeda terrorist group.
The explosions near the hotel are the second and third major blasts to occur in Damascus within a week. On Monday, July 6, an explosive device detonated in a Damascus cafe, killing at least nine people. France's government condemned that incident, labeling it a "terrorist attack." Syrian authorities have not yet publicly attributed responsibility for that attack.
