Gunman attempts attack on US embassy in Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP) — A gunman was captured by Lebanese soldiers on Wednesday after attempting to attack the U.S. embassy near Beirut, the military said.

The attack came amid ongoing tensions in the small Mediterranean state, where months of fighting between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops have led to thousands of people fleeing along the border after years of political blockade and economic hardship.

The Lebanese military said in a statement that soldiers shot dead an attacker they described only as a Syrian national. The gunman was injured and taken to a hospital.

The shooter’s motives were unclear, but Lebanese media have published photos that appear to show the bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the Arabic words “Islamic State” and the English initials “I” and “S.”

Local media reported that a shootout lasted nearly half an hour near the US diplomatic mission in the Aukar suburb north of Beirut.

A Lebanese security official told the Associated Press that there were four attackers, one of whom drove the gunmen to the scene and three of whom opened fire.

One gunman was killed, one escaped and the third was wounded and arrested by the Lebanese military. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have press clearance.

The U.S. Embassy said there were no casualties among staff in the morning attack at the embassy entrance and that Lebanese troops and embassy security were quickly mobilized.

A statement from the office of Lebanese interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that after meetings with the defense minister and the army commander, he was informed that the situation was now stable and serious investigations were underway.

The Lebanese military said it had deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas.

In 1983, 63 people died in a bomb attack on the US embassy in Beirut. US authorities blame the attack on Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

After this attack, the embassy was moved from the center of Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar in the north of the capital. On September 20, 1984, the new location was hit by another bomb attack.

In September 2023, Lebanese security forces arrested a Lebanese man who opened fire on the US embassyThere were no casualties in this attack.

In October 2023, demonstrations in support of the Gaza Strip population and the militant group clashed with Lebanese security forces near the US embassy. Hamas at war with Israel.