Macron Safe After Explosions in Damascus
French President Emmanuel Macron is confirmed safe following reports of explosions in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, according to the Elysee Palace.
Macron is in the Syrian capital to hold talks with his counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace.
A security source informed the BBC that the blasts were caused by two explosive devices and that several individuals have been injured.
Following his visit to Syria, Macron is scheduled to travel to Turkey for the NATO summit. The Elysee Palace stated that the visit "continues as planned."
Videos and images circulating on social media after the explosion reports showed emergency services responding to flames and damage near a vehicle by a hotel in Damascus, with plumes of smoke visible.
At the time these reports emerged, Syrian state television broadcast that al-Sharaa had welcomed Macron to the presidential palace.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first European Union leader to visit the country since the end of Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule.
Earlier in July, a bomb blast at a crowded cafe in central Damascus resulted in at least nine deaths and 22 injuries, as reported by Syrian state media.
Bomb blast at Damascus cafe kills nine, Syrian state media say
