Lebanese particular forces patrol on a street that results in the U.S. Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. A gunman was captured by Lebanese troopers after trying to assault the U.S. Embassy close to Beirut on Wednesday, the army stated.
Bilal Hussein/AP
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Bilal Hussein/AP
BEIRUT — A gunman was shot and captured by Lebanese troopers after a shootout outdoors the U.S. Embassy outdoors Beirut on Wednesday morning, the army stated.
The assault happened as tensions continued to simmer within the tiny Mediterranean nation, the place months of preventing between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops has displaced 1000’s alongside the border, following years of political impasse and financial hardship.
The Lebanese army in an announcement stated that troopers shot an assailant, who they solely described as a Syrian nationwide. The gunman was wounded and brought to a hospital.
The shooter’s motives weren’t clear. Nonetheless, Lebanese media have printed pictures that seem to point out a bloodied attacker sporting a black vest with the phrases “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S.”
Native media reported that there was a gunfight involving at the least one attacker lasting virtually half an hour. A video that surfaced on social media confirmed a gunman in a parking zone throughout the embassy’s entrance capturing with what seems to be an assault rifle.
The U.S. Embassy stated the assault by the embassy’s entrance didn’t trigger any casualties amongst their workers, and that Lebanese troops and embassy safety mobilized shortly.
An announcement from Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s workplace stated that he was knowledgeable following conferences with the protection minister and military commander that the state of affairs was now steady and that severe investigations are underway.
The Lebanese army stated it deployed troops across the embassy and surrounding areas.
In 1983, a lethal bombing assault on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63 individuals. U.S. officers blame the assault on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Following that assault, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. One other bomb assault struck the brand new location on Sept. 20, 1984.
In September 2023, Lebanese safety forces detained a Lebanese man who opened hearth by the U.S. Embassy. There have been no casualties in that assault.
In October 2023, lots of of protesters clashed with Lebanese safety forces in demonstrations close to the U.S. Embassy in assist of Gaza’s individuals and the militant group Hamas in its conflict with Israel.
