Macron visits Syria in first post-Assad trip by Western leader

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Syria on July 6, 2026, becoming the first Western head of state to visit the country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The trip includes a stop in Damascus, where Macron is expected to discuss bilateral relations and the return of French archaeological artifacts loaned before the conflict. The visit marks a new phase in Syrian-French ties, according to Syrian state media. Macron's trip comes amid other international events, including a NATO summit and mourning in Iran for its late leader Khamenei.