DAMASCUS — France and Syria signed a series of cooperation agreements on Wednesday during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron, covering infrastructure, energy and reconstruction, the Syrian presidency said. The deals mark one of the most substantial Western commitments to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Syria's interim president had announced earlier this week that France would contribute to rebuilding the country's shattered infrastructure. The war that began in 2011 destroyed much of Syria's power grid, transport networks and housing, leaving millions displaced and the economy in ruins.

Macron's visit reflects a broader European effort to shape Syria's transition and counter the influence of other regional powers. Paris has pushed for a phased easing of sanctions tied to guarantees on minority protections and inclusive governance, according to the French foreign ministry.

The agreements are likely to draw scrutiny from human rights organisations and some European partners wary of moving too quickly to normalise ties with Damascus. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned this week that Israel's continued presence in southern Lebanon complicates regional stability.

A spokesperson for the Élysée said France sought to support a "stable, sovereign and unified Syria" while insisting that reconstruction aid would be conditioned on political reforms and the protection of all Syrian communities.