By Ijeoma Agbafo
At least 18 people were injured in an explosion in Damascus on Tuesday, Syria’s Interior Ministry confirmed, as French President Emmanuel Macron paid a landmark visit to the country.
The ministry said the blast was the second attack in the Syrian capital within a week, marking a setback for President Ahmad al-Sharaa as he hosted the first visit by a major Western leader since assuming office.
An official at the Élysée Palace said Macron was at the presidential palace when the explosion occurred but was unharmed, adding that his meeting with al-Sharaa continued as scheduled.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Syria’s new leadership has continued to grapple with sporadic outbreaks of violence as it seeks to consolidate control, although Damascus has remained largely peaceful in recent months.
The incident underscores the security challenges facing the new administration as it works to restore stability and strengthen diplomatic ties with Western countries.
