Two bomb explosions shook central Damascus on Tuesday, injuring at least 18 people — including four police officers — as French President Emmanuel Macron was in the Syrian capital for a landmark visit, the first by a Western leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The blasts, which occurred near the Four Seasons hotel where Macron had spent the night, detonated as security specialists were attempting to defuse the devices. One improvised explosive had been placed inside a parked car; a second was hidden in a rubbish bin on a major thoroughfare running past the Tourism Ministry, roughly 125 metres from the hotel. Macron had already left for the presidential palace and did not hear the explosions. French officials confirmed he was safe and that the visit would continue.
The Syrian interior ministry said the devices exploded during defusing preparations and that an initial lead pointing to those responsible had been identified, without providing details. No group has claimed responsibility, but analysts and officials have pointed to the Islamic State group (IS, also known as ISIL or ISIS) as a likely suspect. IS, whose self-declared caliphate once stretched across large parts of Syria and Iraq — with the northeastern city of Raqqa as its de facto capital — still maintains an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 fighters across Syria and Iraq according to the United Nations. "It's not really about numbers. You just need a couple of guys to make and plant a bomb to create an outsized impact," said Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International, a New York-based think tank. The blasts came just days after a separate bombing at a crowded Damascus cafe killed at least nine people last Thursday.
Despite the security scare, Macron pressed ahead with his programme. At a joint press conference with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, he said the attacks must not be allowed to "destabilise" Syria, and reaffirmed France's support for the country's new authorities. Sharaa praised Macron's "courage" in continuing the visit, calling it "historic" and the foundation for a new partnership between the two countries. Fifteen bilateral agreements were signed at an economic forum attended by senior executives from major French companies, covering sectors including civil aviation, banking and health. France also announced it would provide technical assistance to Syria's central bank. The French shipping giant CMA CGM, which signed a contract to develop the port of Latakia, announced an additional €200 million investment to expand the port's capacity.
The bombings have cast a sharp light on the deep security challenges confronting al-Sharaa's government, which took power after rebel forces swept Assad from office. Syria has endured 14 years of devastating civil war that drew in foreign powers including Russia, Iran and a range of Shia militias, leaving the country fragmented and economically exhausted. While Damascus now formally controls most major cities and regions, governance varies sharply: strongest in western and central areas, weakest along the southern border and in Druze-majority zones. Analysts identify several distinct threats — IS cells targeting urban areas, scattered networks loyal to the former Assad regime, and armed actors in outlying regions who contest the central government's authority. Al-Assad's billionaire cousin Rami Makhlouf issued a video this week appearing to threaten the Damascus government, demanding the release of Alawite prisoners.
Beyond external threats, analysts warn that al-Sharaa also faces pressures from within his own base. His rapid rise to power relied heavily on fighters from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a conservative Islamist group with roots in al-Qaeda, as well as other religiously motivated factions. The prospect of closer engagement with the West and a more moderate governing agenda risks alienating the young, unemployed conservative men who formed the backbone of his movement. "I think the greatest threat to the new government comes from within," said Caroline Rose of the New Lines Institute, warning of potential fractures within al-Sharaa's inner circle. US sanctions relief announced in June 2025 has opened the door to foreign investment, but also risks deepening those internal tensions. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan all swiftly condemned Tuesday's bombings, calling them terrorist acts directed at undermining Syria's fragile stability.