Bombs Explode Near Macron’s Hotel During Syria Visit; 18 Wounded

Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, wounding at least 18 people, Syrian authorities reported. The hotel was the reported location where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his visit to Syria. Macron was not at the hotel at the time of the blasts. He was in the presidential palace meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The explosions did not interrupt the French president’s schedule, but they dealt a blow to Syrian leaders’ efforts to project stability during the high-profile visit.