Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's Visits Marred by Damascus Bomb Attacks

Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, who took power after the December 2024 overthrow of Bashar al‑Assad, travelled to Ankara for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit, after being invited by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump praised al‑Sharaa, calling him “tough” and saying he had “pulled the whole country together.” Earlier in Damascus, al‑Sharaa met French President Emmanuel Macron; the leaders signed agreements to restore diplomatic relations and return confiscated assets. The diplomatic events were shadowed by two bomb explosions in the Syrian capital that injured at least 18 people, with no group claiming responsibility. The attacks underscored the security challenges facing Syria’s new government as it seeks international legitimacy and financial support for reconstruction after years of war.