A shooting was reported near the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

Three people shot at the US embassy in Beirut on Wednesday morning, a Lebanese security official said. The National.

“At 8:34 a.m. local time, small arms fire was reported near the entrance to the US Embassy. Thanks to the quick response of the military, ISF and our embassy security team, our facilities and team are safe,” the US embassy said in a statement.

He said investigations were ongoing and that U.S. officials were in close contact with their Lebanese counterparts.

The Lebanese army also confirmed the shooting, identifying the shooter as a Syrian.

“Soldiers deployed in the area responded to the shooting, injuring the shooter. He was arrested and transferred to hospital for treatment,” the army said.

The Lebanese army said it had deployed more units near the US embassy in Awkar district and was conducting an inspection of the surrounding area following the incident.

Local media reported that the shooting lasted nearly half an hour.

Roads leading to the embassy from Dbayeh and Awkar were closed following the incident, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported.

A person shot a guard at the embassy and Lebanese armed forces returned fire and shot the attacker, a diplomatic source said. The National.

The attacker was arrested on the spot, the source added.

The embassy is located north of Beirut, in a highly secure area with several checkpoints along the road leading to the entrance. She moved there from Beirut following a suicide attack in 1983 which left more than 60 dead.

In September, shots were fired near the embassy without causing injuries.

In October, many demonstrators gathered outside the embassy to demonstrate at the start of the Gaza war, and Lebanese security forces used tear gas and water cannons to push them back.

Updated: June 5, 2024, 7:04 a.m.