Gunman captured after shooting near US embassy in Lebanon

A gunman who attacked the U.S. embassy near Beirut was shot and captured by Lebanese soldiers after a shootout Wednesday morning that injured an embassy security guard, military and officials said embassy.

The attack came as tensions simmered in the small Mediterranean country, where months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have displaced thousands of people along the border after years of political stalemate. and economic difficulties.

Local media reported that there was a shooting involving at least one attacker and lasting almost half an hour.

Joe Abdo, who works at a gas station near the complex, said he heard “about 15 to 20 gunshots” while he was working that morning. “We ran here to see what was happening and suddenly the army stopped us from going up,” he told the Associated Press.

No motive was immediately clear, but Lebanese media published photos that appear to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S.”

A Lebanese security official and two judicial officials familiar with the matter said the gunman appeared to be a lone attacker. They identified him as a resident of the border town of Majdal Anjar in eastern Lebanon, near Syria. Previously, the Lebanese army identified the suspect as a Syrian national.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The army carried out raids in Majdal Anjar and nearby Suweiri, where they arrested relatives of the suspect, but found no other gunmen or evidence of a possible extremist cell, the officials added.

The suspect was shot in the stomach and leg before being captured and taken to Beirut's military hospital, officials said.

A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said in a statement that an embassy security officer was injured in the attack.

“As for his private life, we cannot say more, but we wish him a full recovery,” said the spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations.

A statement from Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati's office said he was informed, following meetings with the defense minister and army commander, that the situation was now stable and serious investigations were underway. in progress.

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

In 1983, a deadly bombing of the American embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. U.S. officials blame the attack on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Following this attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bombing hit the new location on September 20, 1984.

In September 2023, Lebanese security forces arrested a Lebanese man who opened fire near the US embassy. There were no casualties during this attack.

In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces during protests near the US Embassy in support of the people of Gaza and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.