Lebanese soldiers apprehended an assailant who attempted to attack the U.S. Embassy near Beirut on June 5, according to the military.
The incident unfolded amidst ongoing tensions in the small Mediterranean nation, marked by months of clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces along the border, compounded by years of political deadlock and economic struggles.
The Lebanese military reported that soldiers fired at the attacker, identified only as a Syrian national, injuring him before transporting him to a hospital.
The motives behind the assault remain unclear. However, Lebanese media outlets have circulated images depicting a wounded individual clad in a black vest bearing the inscription “Islamic State” in Arabic alongside the English initials “I” and “S”.
Local reports detailed a gunfight lasting nearly half an hour near the U.S. diplomatic mission in the Aukar suburb, located north of Beirut.
An anonymous Lebanese security official informed The Associated Press that four assailants were involved, one serving as a driver while the other three carried out the attack.
Of the attackers, one was fatally shot, another escaped, and a third sustained injuries and was apprehended by Lebanese authorities.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed that the morning assault at its entrance did not result in any casualties among its personnel, crediting swift responses from Lebanese troops and embassy security.
A statement from the office of Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicated that following consultations with the defense minister and army commander, the situation was deemed stable, with investigations underway.
The Lebanese military announced the deployment of troops to the embassy premises and adjacent areas.
In 1983, a devastating bombing targeted the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, claiming the lives of 63 individuals. U.S. authorities attributed the attack to the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.
In response to the incident, the embassy relocated from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, situated north of the capital. However, on September 20, 1984, another bomb struck the embassy’s new location.
Image credit: AP
