Explosions Near French President Macron's Hotel in Damascus Injure 18

Two explosive devices detonated near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his visit to Damascus, Syria. Macron had already left the hotel en route to a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when the blasts occurred. The explosions injured 18 people, including four police officers. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two bombs were rudimentary; one was placed inside a parked car by the roadside, and the other inside a trash bin.

Macron arrived in Damascus the previous evening for a historic visit, marking the first time a European Union leader has visited Syria since the fall of Assad's regime. This is also the first visit by a French president to Damascus since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. The attack follows a recent bombing at a café in the Syrian capital, which killed 10 and injured 21. That café was located near the central courthouse where show trials of senior Assad officials are currently underway. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack so far.