A gunman who attacked the U.S. Embassy near Beirut on Wednesday morning was shot and captured by Lebanese soldiers, following a shootout that injured an embassy security guard. The incident adds to the mounting tensions in Lebanon, a country already strained by ongoing conflicts and economic instability.
The attack occurred amid heightened security concerns in the region, exacerbated by the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops along the border. This latest incident further underscores the volatile situation in Lebanon, a nation grappling with years of political deadlock and economic hardships.
According to local media reports, the gunfight involving at least one attacker lasted almost half an hour. Joe Abdo, a worker at a nearby gas station, recounted hearing "around 15 to 20 rounds of gunfire" during his morning shift. "We ran here to see what's happening, and suddenly, the army blocked us from going up," he told The Associated Press.
While the motive for the attack remains unclear, Lebanese media published photos appearing to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words "Islamic State" written in Arabic and the English initials "I" and "S." Lebanese security officials identified the gunman as a resident of the eastern border town of Majdal Anjar, near Syria. Earlier reports from the Lebanese military suggested the suspect was a Syrian national.
The military has since raided Majdal Anjar and the nearby town of Suweiri, detaining relatives of the suspect. However, they did not find additional gunmen or evidence of a larger extremist cell, according to officials. The suspect, who was shot in the stomach and leg, was taken to the military hospital in Beirut.
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson confirmed that one embassy security guard was injured in the attack, expressing hope for a full recovery but withholding further details due to privacy concerns.
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati's office released a statement following meetings with the defense minister and army commander, asserting 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, located in the suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut, is in a highly secured zone with multiple checkpoints along the route to its entrance. The embassy was relocated there after a deadly bombing attack in 1983 killed 63 people. Another bombing struck the new location in 1984.
This recent attack is not the first incident targeting the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. In September 2023, a Lebanese man opened fire near the embassy, though no casualties were reported. In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces near the embassy during demonstrations supporting Gaza's people and the militant group Hamas in its conflict with Israel.
Despite these recurring threats, the Lebanese military's swift response in thwarting the attack highlights the ongoing efforts to maintain security in the region. The U.S. Embassy, while acknowledging the incident, reiterated its commitment to close cooperation with Lebanese law enforcement to ensure the safety of its personnel and the local community.
