Explosions near Macron's hotel in Damascus caught on video
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Two powerful explosions occurred Tuesday near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying in Damascus.
- The blasts, reportedly from bombs placed in a garbage bin and a vehicle, caused panic in the area.
- Macron is the first head of state to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Two powerful explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during an official visit. The blasts, which occurred in the city center, caused significant panic among residents and witnesses.
Reports indicate that one bomb was placed in a garbage bin and another in a nearby vehicle close to the Four Seasons hotel. Videos circulating on social media, purportedly filmed by witnesses, show thick smoke rising into the sky following a loud detonation. The force of the blast appears to have startled those recording, with some abruptly ending their footage and others exclaiming in shock.
The exact circumstances surrounding the explosions remain under investigation. French President Emmanuel Macron is the first head of state to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. He had spent the night at the hotel and departed in the morning for meetings at the presidential palace.
Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.