article author: ANAN TELLO Fri, 2026-07-10 21: 37 LONDON: French President Emmanuel Macron has become the first European head of state to visit Damascus since the fall of President Bashar Assad in late 2024, marking another pivotal step in Syria’s emergence from years of diplomatic isolation. With Syria’s political transition still fragile, observers are asking what France hopes to gain. Samy Akil, a senior adviser at The Syria Report, said the visit reflects a long-term strategic calculation. Main category: Middle East Tags: Syria France Editor’s Choice Special



