By A gunman who launched an attack on the U.S. Embassy near Beirut, Lebanon, was shot and captured by Lebanese soldiers following a Wednesday morning shootout that left an embassy security guard injured, according to military and embassy officials. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the country, which has been grappling with months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops along the border, as well as years of political deadlock and economic hardship.
Local media reported that the gunfight involved at least one attacker and lasted for nearly half an hour. Joe Abdo, an employee at a nearby gas station, told The Associated Press that he heard “around 15 to 20 rounds of gunfire” during the incident. Lebanese media have published photos that appear to show the bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S.”
Lebanese security and judicial officials familiar with the case said the gunman appeared to be acting alone and identified him as a resident of Majdal Anjar, an eastern Lebanese border town near Syria. The Lebanese military had initially identified the suspect as a Syrian national. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being cleared to speak to the press, added that the military raided both Majdal Anjar and nearby Suweiri, detaining relatives of the suspect but finding no evidence of additional gunmen or an extremist cell.
The suspect, who was shot in the stomach and leg before being captured, was taken to a military hospital in Beirut for treatment. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson confirmed that one embassy security guard was injured in the attack but did not provide further details, citing privacy concerns.
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s office released a statement indicating that the situation was now stable and that serious investigations were underway. The Lebanese military has deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas to ensure security.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has been a target of attacks in the past, with a deadly bombing in 1983 that killed 63 people and another bomb attack at its new location in 1984. In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire near the embassy, though no casualties were reported in that incident. The following month, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces in demonstrations near the embassy in support of Gaza’s people and the militant group Hamas during its war with Israel.
Credit: AP
