Syria’s state news agency, citing the Ministry of Health, confirmed the casualty toll on Wednesday and said 36 people were wounded in the blasts.

Details on Injuries

The ministry specified that 31 of the wounded had “minor injuries,” while five were hospitalized in “stable condition.”

Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto reported that the explosions occurred in central Damascus near the Ministry of Tourism and the Four Seasons Hotel, where Macron had stayed the night before.

Explosions and Bomb Disposal Efforts

Syria’s Ministry of Interior stated that one bomb was placed inside a car parked on the side of a road, while a second device was planted in a rubbish container. Both exploded “while preparations were under way” to dismantle them.

According to Macron’s office. The French president had already left the hotel for Syria’s presidential palace and did not hear the explosions. Macron, the first European Union head of state to visit Syria since the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, pledged to continue his visit despite the incidents.

In a news conference with Syrian President Ahmed el-Sharaaa, Macron said they must “not let ourselves be destabilised.” Al-Sharaa praised Macron’s “courage” for continuing the visit in the face of the attacks.

Impact on Diplomatic Mission

The blasts cast a shadow over what was intended to be a landmark visit for Syria’s government, which is seeking to rehabilitate its international image after more than a decade of conflict. Five days earlier, a separate attack in Damascus killed 10 people in a cafe.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani described Macron’s visit as a “central point” in relations between the two countries; During the visit, Syria and France signed 15 bilateral agreements covering civil aviation, health, banking, water infrastructure, and roads.

Al-Sharaa said he envisions France as a “primary partner” for Syria, particularly in global transit following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz; Macron and al-Sharaa later travelled to Ankara, Turkiye, to attend the annual NATO summit.