Explosions Rock Damascus During French President's Visit, Injuring 18

Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France’s president met with his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, wounding at least 18 people, Syria’s Interior Ministry said.

It was the second blast to rock the capital in a few days, and a setback for the country’s new president as he welcomed his first visit from a western leader since ousting long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s new rulers have wrestled with outbreaks of violence as they work to assert control, but the capital has been largely peaceful.

“Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria,” Macron said in a post on X hours after the deadly explosions. “This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage and determination.”

The explosions represent a challenge to al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading an insurgency that ousted Bashar al-Assad in 2024 and ending the country’s 14-year uprising turned civil war. Assad’s dynasty ruled Syria with an iron fist for half a century.

Al-Sharaa has since pushed to assert full control over and bring stability to war-torn Syria, appeal to minorities sceptical of his Islamist-led rule, and win the support of Western governments who were concerned about his past leadership of the formerly al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. His government has promised political and economic reform after decades of autocratic rule.