India, July 7 -- At least 18 people were injured after two explosions occurred near the Ministry of Tourism in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Tuesday, coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the country.

Despite the blasts, Macron's official visit continued as scheduled.

In a statement to SANA, Syria's Ministry of Interior said the Internal Security Forces detected two explosive devices during field operations, following which specialised units began efforts to safely defuse them.

The explosions took place while preparations were underway for the disposal of the devices. Authorities immediately cordoned off the area to ensure civilian safety, while specialised teams launched search, clearance and security operations ...