Syria Arrests Islamic State Suspects Behind Damascus Bombings During Emmanuel Macron Visit

Syrian authorities said on Thursday they arrested suspects linked to a string of explosions in Damascus, including the bombings during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit earlier this week.

“Syria says it arrested IS-linked suspects behind the Damascus bombings Syrian authorities have arrested several suspects linked to recent explosions in Damascus, including bombings during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syrian authorities said on Thursday they have arrested several suspects accused of a string of recent explosions in Damascus, including the bombings during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit earlier this week”

ABC News

An official with Syria's Internal Security Forces said the Islamic State group was behind the bombings, and the Interior Ministry said security forces “succeeded in dismantling the entire cell responsible” for the bombings.

ABC News

ABC News reported that the explosions killed one person and wounded 36 others, according to the final casualty toll announced by Syria's Ministry of Health.

The same ABC News report said the blasts happened after explosive devices were planted in a garbage bin and a parked car during Macron's visit, and Macron was not harmed as he continued with his meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

On Syrian state television, Ahmad Dalati, head of interior security for the Damascus region, said the preliminary investigations showed the cell involved in the July 7 Damascus bombings was affiliated with the IS group.

Al Jazeera quoted Dalati saying, “Preliminary investigations into the members of the cell involved in the July 7 Damascus bombings have shown that the cell was affiliated with the IS group,” and it also cited Interior Minister Anas Khattab saying the cell responsible was “now in our custody.”

Al Jazeera

Al-Monitor, citing a senior Syrian security official, reported that investigators tracked down one member of the cell responsible for Tuesday's bombings in Damascus and by monitoring him identified the rest of the group's members.

Al-Monitor also said two bombs exploded on Tuesday near a hotel in Damascus where Macron spent the night, wounding 18 people.

Syria's Interior Ministry said the cell's members confessed during questioning that they targeted public institutions to destabilize the country, and it added that ongoing investigations supported by forensic evidence and security analysis confirmed the cell's responsibility also for a “terrorist bombing” in May.

Anadolu Ajansı reported the ministry statement said the suspects admitted to carrying out the attack "to target public institutions, destabilize security and stability, and spread disorder among citizens."

The same Anadolu Ajansı report said Interior Minister Anas Khattab instructed security authorities to intensify security measures across all governorates after the arrests announced on Thursday.

ABC News framed the broader stakes around Syria's transition, saying the explosions are a challenge to al-Sharaa, who has pushed to assert full control over Syria after Bashar Assad was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024 led by al-Sharaa.