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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Ghaith Alsayed and Kareem Chehayeb

Macron arrives in Syria as first major western leader to visit war-torn country under new leadership

Emmanuel Macron Syria Ahmad alSharaa United States
Syria Macron - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Monday in Syria, making him the first major western leader to visit the war-torn country since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited in April but Macron is the first leader from western Europe or North America to do so.

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