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Syrian authorities say they arrested suspects linked to recent Damascus explosions, including blasts during Emmanuel Macron's visit. The case underscores the fragile security climate as Damascus seeks control, reforms and foreign support.
Damascus,UPDATED: Jul 10, 2026 03:04 IST
Syrian authorities on Thursday said they had arrested several suspects accused of carrying out a series of recent explosions in Damascus, including the blasts that took place during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit earlier this week. The Interior Ministry said security forces conducted raids in the capital and nearby areas and had “succeeded in dismantling the entire cell responsible” for the bombings.
The ministry did not provide any details on the identity or affiliation of the suspects. The arrests come after two attacks in Damascus in recent days, one of them during Macron's landmark visit to Syria, a country trying to rebuild after years of civil war.
On Tuesday, explosive devices were planted in a garbage bin and a parked car while Macron was in Syria. Macron was at the presidential palace when the blasts took place, but he was not harmed and continued with his meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Syria's Ministry of Health later said the explosions killed one person and injured 36 others.
Last week, another explosive device went off in a cafe near Damascus' main judicial complex, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 20. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack.
The explosions pose a challenge to al-Sharaa, who has been trying to establish full control over Syria. He has appealed to minorities who are sceptical of his government's Islamist-led rule and has sought backing from Western governments concerned about his past leadership of the formerly al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
His government has promised political and economic reforms after decades of autocratic rule by the Assad family, which ended when former president Bashar Assad was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024 led by al-Sharaa. Syria's nearly 14-year civil war killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions, leaving widespread devastation and ruined infrastructure. The latest arrests follow these attacks as the country continues to face major security and rebuilding challenges.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 10, 2026 03:04 IST
