Macron makes first Western visit to Damascus since Assad fall as twin blasts hit near French delegation
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Macron makes first Western visit to Damascus since Assad fall as twin blasts hit near French delegation
Explosions rock Damascus as French President Macron visits Syria in historic first
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French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday became the first Western leader to visit Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, meeting Syria’s new President Ahmad al-Sharaa in a landmark encounter overshadowed by twin bomb blasts that injured 18 people near the French delegation’s hotel. The explosions—one hidden in a trash bin, the other in a parked car—occurred within meters of the Four Seasons Hotel where Macron had stayed the previous night, forcing the French leader to cut short his visit hours after it began. Authorities reported no casualties among Macron’s entourage, but the blasts underscored the fragility of Syria’s post-Assad transition as Paris seeks to re-engage with Damascus.
Macron and al-Sharaa signed several bilateral agreements during their meeting at the People’s Palace, including a French pledge to return more than €50 million in assets seized from the Assad family to the Syrian people . Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot formalized the deal, marking a concrete step toward recovering funds allegedly embezzled by Rifaat al-Assad, the late uncle of the former president . Macron also announced France’s readiness to support Syria’s economic reconstruction, including the banking sector, telling reporters the country was “open for business” despite ongoing security risks .
The visit, which followed al-Sharaa’s official trip to Paris in May 2025, signals France’s bid to position itself at the forefront of Western engagement with Syria’s new leadership. Analysts interpret Macron’s presence as both a political endorsement of al-Sharaa’s administration and a strategic move to secure French economic interests in a country where regional powers—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey—have already pledged $28 billion in investments since December 2024 . “Despite all challenges, Syria is currently probably the world’s most attractive frontier market,” said Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of the US-Syria Business Council, in April, though European firms remain cautious .
The blasts, which Macron’s delegation narrowly avoided, were claimed by no group but immediately drew condemnation from European capitals. Le Figaro reported that the explosions occurred as Macron was en route to the Umayyad Mosque, where he and al-Sharaa posed for photographs before signing the guestbook . The timing—just hours after Macron’s arrival—raised questions about the government’s ability to ensure security, even as Damascus seeks to project stability to attract foreign investment.
Macron’s delegation included French business leaders eyeing opportunities in healthcare, infrastructure, and technology, with the Franco-Syrian Business Council hosting a reception for officials and investors on Monday . Syria’s investment authority has touted projects ranging from start-ups to national databases, though critics warn that without deeper institutional reforms, economic gains may prove unsustainable. The World Bank estimates Syria’s economy shrank by 83% during the war, leaving 90% of the population—22.5 million people—living on less than €2 per day .
As Macron departed for the NATO summit in Turkey, the visit left unresolved tensions between France’s ambition to shape Syria’s future and the persistent risks of a country still grappling with the legacies of dictatorship and civil war. The €50 million asset return, while symbolic, offers a rare point of consensus between Paris and Damascus—one that may yet prove pivotal if Syria is to emerge from its decade of isolation.
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Articles
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