A historic peace visit to Syria was shattered by bombs in the capital city.
At least 18 people were hurt in Damascus as President Emmanuel Macron met with Syria's new leader to restore ties.
For years, families in Syria lived in fear of daily war. Now, just as they started to hope for peace, bombs are shaking their capital again.
What Happened
On Tuesday, two bombs exploded in Damascus. One bomb was in a trash bin and the other was in a parked car near a busy street. At least 18 people were hurt, including four police officers.
French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa when the blasts went off. Macron was safe inside the palace, and the meeting kept going. No group has said they did it yet.
Later, the two leaders agreed to send diplomats to each other's countries again after more than 10 years. They also signed deals with French firms to fix the city of Homs and help Syria's central bank.
Fact Box
- 18 people were hurt in the Tuesday blasts.
- 2 bomb attacks have hit Damascus in less than a week.
- $58.3 million in taken assets will be returned to Syria.
- 14 years of war have left the nation in ruins.
Why It Matters
This visit was a big deal for Syria's new leaders. They took power in late 2024 after pushing out the old ruler, Bashar Assad. They want to show the world that Syria is now safe, open, and ready to rebuild.
The bombs show that peace is still fragile. If world leaders and businesses do not feel safe, it will be very hard to get the help needed to fix the country and lift people out of poverty.
What Happens Next
Macron left Syria to go to Turkey for a NATO meeting. France and Syria will now work to reopen their embassies.
Syrian officials say they will hunt down the bombers. They also plan to start using the new funds from France to repair water, power, and airport systems.
What We Still Don't Know
- Who planned and carried out these bomb attacks?
- Will other Western nations follow France and restore ties with Syria?
- Can the new government keep the capital safe from more violence?
Transparency notes
Published: Jul 7, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.