New footage has been published showing the explosions that rocked Damascus on Tuesday during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Syria, according to a security source cited by i24NEWS. The video appears to capture multiple blasts near the area of Macron's hotel earlier in the day. The cause of the explosions remains unclear; Macron was confirmed unharmed and has since met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
New footage published by i24NEWS, citing a security source, shows multiple blasts near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus on Tuesday morning. The video emerges hours after a series of explosions were first reported in the area (The Zioneer, 11:13 Jerusalem). Macron had left the hotel roughly 15 minutes earlier, and the Elysee Palace confirmed he was unharmed and did not hear the blasts (The Zioneer, 11:13 and 11:26 Jerusalem). The cause of the explosions is still not formally determined; a security source earlier told i24NEWS an explosive device was involved.
Reporting on the incident has evolved rapidly: initial reports from a Syrian security source said two IEDs detonated, and security forces were searching for suspects (The Zioneer, 11:13 Jerusalem). Subsequent versions of that same bulletin cited Syrian reports of three people killed and the involvement of two improvised explosive devices planted in trash bins, which the Elysee later confirmed did not harm Macron (The Zioneer, 11:13 Jerusalem). By 11:13 Jerusalem, the French presidency confirmed that multiple explosive devices had detonated near the hotel; by 12:29 Jerusalem, Macron was reported to be meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace, as The Zioneer reported at 12:29 Jerusalem.
The visit marks Macron's first as a Western head of state to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. On Monday, he toured the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus with de facto leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani (The Zioneer, 10:01 Jerusalem). Syrian authorities sealed off roads near the hotel after the blasts; no group has claimed responsibility.
Open questions remain about the exact nature of the explosives, the intended target, and whether any casualties beyond the three early reports occurred. Syrian internal security forces continue to investigate, per earlier reports.
7 developments
- DevelopingMacron responds to Damascus explosions: 'My visit continues, Syrians aspire to live in secure, sovereign Syria'
- DevelopingElysee: Macron did not hear Damascus explosions, on his way to Syria meeting
- StrongMacron arrived at Syrian president's palace after explosions near his hotel
- StrongSyrian Interior Ministry: Two explosions near Tourism Ministry in Damascus were improvised bombs, 18 wounded
Source and signal
- Internal intake