Explosions rock Damascus as French President Macron visits Syria
EuropePoliticsHigh confidence — 91/100
Two bombs exploded on Tuesday near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron spent the night, wounding 18 people and overshadowing the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
July 7, 2026 / 5:01 AM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google Damascus — France's President Emmanuel Macron escaped what may have been an attempted assassination Tuesday during a visit to Syria's capital.
The French presidential palace, the Elysee, said in a statement that Macron was safe and would continue his visit to Damascus after two bombs exploded outside the hotel where he spent the night.
Confirmed
Two bombs exploded on Tuesday near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron spent the night, wounding 18 people and overshadowing the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
July 7, 2026 / 5:01 AM EDT / CBS/AFP Add CBS News on Google Damascus — France's President Emmanuel Macron escaped what may have been an attempted assassination Tuesday during a visit to Syria's capital.
The French presidential palace, the Elysee, said in a statement that Macron was safe and would continue his visit to Damascus after two bombs exploded outside the hotel where he spent the night.