# Eighteen people have been injured after explosive devices went off in Damascus near the hotel where French president Emmanuel Macron had been staying in the Syrian capital. State news agency Sana reports two devices detected by security forces exploded as specialised units began to defuse them. Macron arrived last night, becoming the first European Union leader to visit Syria since al-Sharaa came to power in 2024. It is a trip that underlines Syria’s return to the global stage following years of international isolation.
Explosions injure 18 in Damascus during Macron’s visit