BEIRUT: A gunman was arrested by Lebanese soldiers after attempting to attack the US Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday, the military said.
The incident occurred as tensions continued to increase in the tiny Mediterranean country, where months of fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli troops has displaced thousands along the border, after economic hardship and political deadlock.
The Lebanese military stated that they shot an attacker, who was subsequently wounded and taken to a hospital. While the motives of the assailant remain unclear, Lebanese media have circulated photos of individual wearing a black vest.
Reports indicate that there was a gunfight lasting nearly half an hour near the US diplomatic mission in the suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut. A Lebanese security official told the media on the condition of anonymity that four assailants were involved, including one who transported the gunmen to the site.
One attacker was killed, another escaped, and a third was wounded and apprehended by the Lebanese military. The US Embassy confirmed that the incident near its entrance did not result in any casualties among its staff and praised the swift response of Lebanese troops and embassy security.
The Lebanese military subsequently deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure. The attack near the US Embassy in Aukar evokes memories of past violence, including a deadly bombing in 1983 and subsequent security incidents in 2023, highlighting ongoing tensions and security challenges in the region.
