Macron visits Damascus's Umayyad Mosque with Syrian president

DAMASCUS, Syria — French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Tuesday evening alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, signing the site's guest book during his first visit to the Syrian capital. Macron wrote that the mosque bears witness to layers of civilization, noting that Roman temples and Christian churches have stood alongside the site as part of Syria's accumulated heritage. He also wrote that Syrian unity forms part of the country's shared historical fabric. Addressing the press at the start of his visit, Macron said he had come to reaffirm French support for "a united and sovereign Syria" that preserves its pluralistic character and lives in peace with its neighbors. He added that France stands "in friendship" with the Syrian people. Macron said he would discuss the transition process with al-Sharaa and would later join a roundtable with a delegation of French business figures focused on Syria's reconstruction. No further details on the participants or the agenda were immediately available.