Two explosions rock Damascus, while Macron in town

Two explosions were reported in Damascus on Tuesday morning. One occurred on a peripheral road, while the other took place in the Syrian capital, not far from the Four Seasons Hotel, where French President Emmanuel Macron and his delegation have been staying since Monday night.

The Elysee Palace said the French president was not at the hotel at the time of the explosion, but was on his way to the Syrian presidential palace for a meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. "President Macron is safe. His visit continues as planned," the Elysee Palace said.

Macron is the first Western leader to meet Sharaa in the Syrian capital.

The French leader arrived in Damascus on Monday evening ahead of his trip to Ankara on Tuesday afternoon for the NATO summit.

The Elysee Palace refrained from announcing Macron’s visit on Monday for security reasons, confirming his arrival to Damascus only after he had reached the city. Macron’s visit includes a private meeting with Sharaa as well as an economic forum attended by senior French and Syrian business leaders.

Last Friday, 10 people were killed and 21 others were injured in an explosion that took place at a cafe in central Damascus, in the al-Hijaz area near the Ministry of Justice. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Syrian authorities have accused remnants of the former Assad regime and affiliated cells of attempting to sow instability and disrupt the country's transitional period.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.