{"id":1513,"date":"2026-07-07T09:07:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1513"},"modified":"2026-07-07T09:07:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:07:56","slug":"explosions-rock-damascus-wounding-18-as-french-president-macron-visits-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1513","title":{"rendered":"Explosions rock Damascus, wounding 18, as French President Macron visits Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) \u2014 Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France\u2019s president met with his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, wounding at least 18 people, Syria\u2019s Interior Ministry said.<\/p>\n

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Emmanuel Macron<\/span> had entered the presidential palace to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa when the explosions happened near the Four Seasons Hotel. Syrian authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.<\/p>\n

Syrian media reported that Macron was staying at the Four Seasons. The French president\u2019s office said he was safe and that his meeting with al-Sharaa was continuing. Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria since al-Sharaa came to power and his visit comes before he heads to a NATO summit<\/span> in Ankara, Turkey.<\/p>\n

Macron played a major role in pushing Europe and the United States to drop most sanctions on Syria<\/span>. He arrived in the country Monday night with an economic delegation, and is scheduled to sign memorandums of understanding with his counterpart as the battered country tries to lure investors to help it rebuild after 14 years of war.<\/p>\n

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The Interior Ministry in a statement reported by Syrian state media said that the two blasts in the heart of the capital were caused by explosive devices, one placed in a garbage bin and the other in a parked car. It added that four of the wounded were police officers, and no deaths were immediately reported. An investigation is currently taking place at the scene of the attack.<\/p>\n

A large plume of smoke could be seen from the site. The area is on a busy street in Damascus and is near the headquarters of the Tourism Ministry and the Damascus National Museum.<\/p>\n

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Footage widely circulated on social media showed a van and a motorcycle on fire and blood stains on the street.<\/p>\n

There were no immediate reports of casualties. No group immediately claimed responsibility.<\/p>\n

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The incident comes days after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the Justice Palace in Damascus<\/span>, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 20.<\/p>\n

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The explosions are a blow for al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading an insurgency that ousted Bashar Assad in 2024.<\/p>\n

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