Damascus: Eighteen people, including four police officers, were injured Tuesday when two homemade explosive devices exploded near Syria's Tourism Ministry in central Damascus during a disposal operation, the Interior Ministry said. According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry stated that Internal Security Forces discovered the two explosive devices during field operations and deployed specialized units to defuse them. Unfortunately, the devices detonated while preparations for the disposal operation were underway. The ministry detailed that the first explosive device had been placed inside a parked vehicle, while the second was concealed within a garbage container. Initial assessments suggested that both devices were crudely manufactured. Security forces promptly sealed off the area to safeguard civilians as specialized units launched search operations and initiated an investigation to identify those responsible for the attack, the ministry added. The ministry further assured that the blast site was outside the designated security perimeter for French President Emmanuel Macron's accommodation, posing no direct threat to his residence or official visit, which is proceeding as planned. The French presidency confirmed that Macron was "safe and sound," as reported by French daily Le Figaro. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the explosions. This incident follows closely on the heels of another attack less than a week ago when an improvised explosive device exploded near a cafe close to the Palace of Justice, on the road leading to the Hamidiya market in central Damascus on July 2. That explosion resulted in 10 fatalities and injured 21 others, according to Syria's Health Ministry.