Macron visits Syria, meets new leader in Damascus

French President Emmanuel Macron has undertaken a highly symbolic visit to Damascus, Syria, two years after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. He met with the nation's new strongman, former jihadist Ahmed al-Charaa, in a move that signals a potential new chapter for the war-torn country.

Macron's arrival at Damascus International Airport was met by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaiban. The French president is the first European leader to visit Syria since Assad's ouster in 2024, a detail underscoring the significance of his presence in a nation still grappling with deep divisions and the aftermath of conflict.

A central part of Macron's visit included a tour of the Great Mosque of the Umayyads, a sprawling and historically significant site in the heart of the Syrian capital. Accompanied by al-Charaa, Macron, dressed in a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and sunglasses, explored the mosque, which has stood for 1300 years and is built on layers of religious history, including a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter and a Byzantine church.

The mosque itself, housing relics of Saint John the Baptist and the tomb of Saladin, serves as a potent symbol of Syria's complex past. Macron's engagement with al-Charaa and his tour of such a prominent landmark suggest an effort to engage with the new leadership and acknowledge the country's enduring heritage amidst its ongoing recovery.