French President Emmanuel Macron is safe and unhurt following two explosions in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, 7 July 2026, the Élysée Palace confirmed. The explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel, where the French president was staying during his landmark visit.

Macron was already away from the hotel and en route to the Syrian presidential palace when the blasts occurred, leaving him entirely unaware of the incident at the time.

While social media footage showed a burning vehicle and reported several injuries, no group has claimed immediate responsibility.

This historic visit makes Macron the first Western European head of state to travel to Syria since rebel forces overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024.

Despite the major security scare, French officials confirmed that his diplomatic schedule with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is continuing exactly as planned. Following his high-level talks in Syria, Macron is scheduled to depart for the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey.