• Preliminary investigations indicate that suspects arrested over twin bombings in Damascus were affiliated with the Islamic State militant group.
• The explosions occurred outside the Syrian Tourism Ministry building in central Damascus while French President Emmanuel Macron was visiting the city, resulting in one death and 31 injuries.
• Syria's Interior Ministry announced that security forces dismantled the entire cell allegedly responsible for the attacks, following extensive intelligence-gathering and simultaneous raids in Damascus and surrounding areas.

Preliminary investigations into a twin bombing in Damascus earlier this week indicate that the suspected perpetrators were affiliated with the militant group Islamic State, regional security chief Ahmad al-Dalati said on Friday.

The explosions occurred on Tuesday morning while French President Emmanuel Macron was visiting the city. They struck outside the Syrian Tourism Ministry building in central Damascus, near Macron's hotel.

According to the latest Health Ministry figures, one person was killed and 31 others were injured, most of them only slightly. It was the second bombing incident in the capital within a week.

Syria's Interior Ministry announced late Thursday that security forces had dismantled the entire cell allegedly responsible for the attacks.

The ministry said the operation followed extensive intelligence-gathering and involved simultaneous raids in Damascus and surrounding areas.

The identities and roles of those arrested will be disclosed once the investigation is complete, the ministry said.

Security forces imposed a cordon around the Ash al-Warwar neighbourhood in north-eastern Damascus on Thursday afternoon and barred residents from entering the area.

Residents said security personnel conducted house-to-house searches and arrested several people.