Multiple explosions struck central Damascus near the Four Seasons Hotel, where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his historic visit to Syria, according to Reuters and Syrian media. Macron had left the hotel roughly 15 minutes prior for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and was unharmed. A vehicle was engulfed in flames; the blasts were caused by explosive devices detonated near the hotel.
At approximately 10:28 Jerusalem time Tuesday, two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel in central Damascus, where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his historic visit to Syria. Macron had left the hotel roughly 15 minutes earlier for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace; the Élysée Palace confirmed he was unharmed and that the visit would continue as planned. Syrian security sources, cited by Reuters and local media, identified the cause as two improvised explosive devices—one in a trash can and another in a vehicle—killing at least four people, believed to be Syrian security personnel securing the hotel. The meeting between Macron and al-Sharaa, which began around 10:49 Jerusalem time, was ongoing at the time of the blasts, according to N12 journalist Asaf Rozentzweig.
22 developments
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