BBC News, Go to content Main Sections News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations Breaking: Sounds of two explosions were heard in Damascus coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit. The news just arrived from our office in Damascus where two explosions were heard in the Syrian capital coinciding with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Immediately after the explosions, smoke billowed from a location near the Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, where President Emmanuel Macron and his accompanying delegation are currently staying.
The echoes of the explosions were heard in several areas of Damascus, before columns of smoke rose and ambulances rushed to the scene, while Macron, the first Western head of state to visit Damascus since the fall of Assad, was holding official talks with his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Shara in the presidential palace.
The area where the explosions occurred is one of the most vibrant areas in downtown Damascus, where a major bridge serves as a key traffic intersection linking several neighborhoods of the capital.
The area experiences heavy daily congestion, with small and large passenger buses converging.
It also houses prominent government institutions, including the Ministry of Tourism and the National Museum, which is just meters away from the explosion site, gaining additional importance due to its proximity to government headquarters and the University of Damascus.
Today, French President Emmanuel Macron is holding official talks with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara on the second day of his unprecedented visit to Damascus, focusing on the reconstruction of a war-torn country.
The official Syrian television reported that interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara received French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential palace in Damascus shortly after the sounds of the explosions were heard.
For its part, the French presidency (Élysée) announced that Macron did not hear any explosions while heading to meet Shara at the presidential palace in Damascus, confirming Macron's safety and the continuation of his visit to Syria.
Authorities closed several roads in the capital as a precautionary security measure following the explosions, while relevant authorities began search and investigation operations regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Macron began his meetings on Tuesday by holding a session with representatives of civil society, before proceeding to meet with Shara at the presidential palace for official talks, followed by an "economic forum dedicated to the reconstruction of Syria and strategic corridors".
After more than 13 years of conflict that drained the economy and resources and deepened Syria's isolation from its surroundings and the world, the country is seeking to "reposition itself as a gateway to the East for the European Union," as explained by researcher at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne Arthur Kinne.
The bet lies in providing maritime and land routes, alongside alternative linking networks towards Iraq and the Gulf states.
French President Macron is accompanied on his visit by several top executives from major French companies, including the Chairman of "CMA CGM" Rodolphe Saadé, and the CEO of "Total Energies" Patrick Pouyanné.
Several agreements are expected to be signed, although French investors remain cautious about the current situation.
In an interview with French channel "BFM TV" on Monday evening, the head of the transitional phase in Syria emphasized the presence of a "huge investment opportunity" in his country.
He expected France to participate in the reconstruction of infrastructure in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and industry, noting that Syria is "now negotiating a major contract for eight Airbus planes" to be procured from European aircraft manufacturing company.