French President Emmanuel Macron says Syria must not be destabilised after two bomb attacks near the Damascus hotel where he spent the night. Macron issues the warning during a landmark state visit as Syria works to recover following years of civil war. The attacks occur close to the location of his stay and reportedly leave 18 people wounded. The bombings add uncertainty to the visit of a European Union head of state to Syria, which takes place amid a period of political change in the country. According to coverage, Syria is emerging from its conflict and President Ahmed al-Sharaa is attempting to reshape the country’s international image following more than a decade of fighting, after Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power since late 2024. The reports describe the explosions as casting a shadow over the trip, but they do not attribute the attacks to any specific group or provide additional details on responsibility. The sources agree on Macron’s warning, the proximity of the blasts to his hotel, the reported number of people injured, and the context of the visit.