France's Macron in first post-Assad visit to Damascus : why the Syria stopover ?

According to France 24, French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Damascus, marking the first visit by a sitting French leader since Nicolas Sarkozy met the now-deposed Bashar al-Assad back in 2009. Macron met with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Shareh. France 24 frames the trip around its timing and unstated aims, noting it comes as Iran buries its Supreme Guide, who was killed last February, and as Hamas has begun disarming in Gaza. The broadcaster raises, but does not answer, why Paris chose this moment for the stopover.

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