A gunman who opened fire on the United States embassy in Beirut has been arrested after sustaining injuries during a gunfight with soldiers. The attack occurred on Wednesday morning and was carried out by a Syrian national, according to the Lebanese military. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region as Israel continues its war in Gaza.
The assailant, wounded during the exchange of gunfire, has been taken into custody and transported to a hospital. The army confirmed that the attacker was a Syrian national and stated that an investigation is underway. Although no further details were provided, a photo circulating on social media shows a bloodied man wearing a vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S.”
Local media sources indicate that the gunfight lasted nearly half an hour. A member of the embassy’s security team was reportedly wounded. Meanwhile, the army conducted a search for any other potential attackers in the area, as suggested by a security source speaking to Reuters.
Lebanese security officials speculate that the detained attacker may not have acted alone. Authorities believe up to four other gunmen could have been involved in the attack.
The US embassy, situated in a highly secured zone north of Beirut, relocated there after a suicide attack in 1983 that claimed 63 lives. Tensions have remained high in Lebanon since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October. Iran-linked armed group Hezbollah has engaged in mutual attacks with Israel along the country’s southern border.
Last September, a gunman fired at the US embassy without causing casualties. Lebanese police attributed the attack to a delivery driver seeking revenge for perceived humiliation by security personnel. The incident coincided with the anniversary of a deadly car bombing outside the US embassy annexe in Beirut in September 1984, which the US attributed to Hezbollah.
In October of the same year, protesters gathered outside the embassy during the early days of the Gaza war, prompting Lebanese security forces to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. Iran-linked groups in Syria and Yemen have also maintained low-level conflicts with Israeli forces.
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