Damascus, July 07: A massive bomb blast occurred on Tuesday near the hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron, who is visiting Syria, was staying. Fortunately, the French president was not harmed in the explosion and he is completely safe, the French presidential palace said.
How severe was the explosion? According to Reuters witnesses, a loud explosion was heard in the area around the hotel where the French president was staying, and thick smoke was seen billowing into the sky. However, President Macron, who was inside the hotel, is said to have not heard the explosion. Immediately after the incident, Syrian security forces closed the roads around the hotel and took strict security measures.
A significant meeting with the Syrian president Despite the alarming incident, French President Macron continued his scheduled trip, meeting and holding talks with the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Shara.
Why is this visit important? In 2024, forces led by rebel leader Ahmed al-Shara ousted long-time Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from power. Emmanuel Macron is the first major European Union (EU) head of state to visit Syria since the regime change.
The bombing near Macron’s hotel is a testament to how tough the security challenges and terrorist threat in Syria remain, even under the new government.