Syrian Forces Arrest ISIS Cell Behind Damascus Bombings During Macron Visit

Syrian security forces announced on Thursday the arrest of a cell linked to ISIS, which they say was behind two bomb explosions in Damascus two days prior. The blasts occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel in central Damascus, where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying as part of a high-profile visit.

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The two explosions cannot in any way be seen as a sign of weakness or incapacity. Rather, they confirm the nature of the asymmetric war Syrian security and military authorities are fighting against ISIS, which relies on suicide attacks and indiscriminate violence to spread fear.

The attacks, which happened shortly after Macron's convoy departed for the presidential palace, were particularly sensitive given the French leader's presence. Macron's visit marked the first by a major Western power leader since President Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed office in late 2024. The explosions, caused by improvised explosive devices, killed one person and injured 36 others, according to the Health Ministry. The French presidency confirmed Macron was safe and intended to continue his visit.

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the incident was “not a security breach in the technical sense, but a failed terrorist attempt that was uncovered and dealt with in record time.”

Ismat al-Absi, a strategic security and military expert close to the Defense Ministry, dismissed the notion that the attacks indicated a security weakness. He described the incident as "not a security breach in the technical sense, but a failed terrorist attempt that was uncovered and dealt with in record time." Absi emphasized that the explosions' detonation several hundred meters away from the official guest's route and the immediate arrests proved that national security was not compromised.

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The fact that the devices were detonated away from the official guest’s route, followed by the immediate arrest of those responsible, proves that the red line of national security was not breached.

Al-Absi further distinguished between infiltration and establishing a foothold, stating that ISIS lacks a popular base and relies on scattered sleeper cells exploiting temporary security vacuums. He suggested that the appearance of such cells around Damascus reflects desperate attempts by ISIS to re-establish a presence before being eliminated by the state, rather than indicating broad infiltration. Absi noted that security agencies are employing pre-emptive measures and close surveillance to manage such threats effectively.

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It also shows that the state can separate the enemy’s noise from the performance of its sovereign duties.