Macron visits Damascus — first French president in Syria since Sarkozy met Assad in 2009

Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus for the first time by a French president since Nicolas Sarkozy met Bashar al-Assad in 2009, holding talks with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Shareh. The visit coincided with Iran burying its Supreme Guide — killed last February — and with Hamas beginning to disarm in Gaza, raising questions about France's strategic objectives in the region.