Syrian Interior Ministry Details Damascus Explosions Near Macron's Residence

The Syrian Ministry of Interior released an official statement outlining the details of two explosions that occurred on Tuesday morning near the Ministry of Tourism in central Damascus, close to the residence of French President Emmanuel Macron. The blasts resulted in injuries to 18 individuals, including four police officers.

The ministry emphasized that the explosion site was outside the secured perimeter designated for the French president's residence and did not pose a direct threat to him or his entourage. It also confirmed that Macron's visit to Syria was continuing as planned without any alterations.

According to the Interior Ministry, internal security forces detected the two improvised explosive devices before they detonated. The explosions took place during the process of preparing to defuse them.

The ministry further clarified in a statement published by the official news agency SANA that the devices were rudimentary. One was placed inside a parked car on the roadside, while the other was inside a garbage container.

On Tuesday, the French presidency confirmed that President Macron was safe and continuing his official visit to Damascus. It noted that he had left the Four Seasons Hotel, where he had spent the night, well before the explosions occurred and proceeded to the presidential palace, where he held an extensive meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharq.

Syrian security sources and reporters from Agence France-Presse reported two successive explosions in central Damascus near the upscale Four Seasons Hotel. The sources indicated that one explosion occurred inside a garbage container and the other inside a vehicle, both caused by improvised explosive devices.

The blasts were audible across wide areas of the capital, with smoke rising from the vicinity of the hotel. Security forces responded by closing several main roads surrounding the site, while sirens from ambulances and police vehicles were heard in the area.

An AFP photographer observed damaged windows in the Ministry of Tourism building directly facing the hotel amid a heavy security presence. The second explosion took place near Victoria Bridge, approximately 200 meters from the hotel.

An eyewitness employed at a nearby currency exchange office reported seeing three traffic police officers injured on the ground before the area was completely evacuated and access roads were blocked.

This incident occurred on the second day of Macron's visit to Damascus, marking the first time a Western head of state has visited the Syrian capital since the previous regime was overthrown.

For security reasons, Macron had delayed announcing his arrival until his plane landed, following a prior explosion on Thursday near the Justice Palace that killed ten people.