Gunman taken to hospital after shooting outside US embassy in Beirut

Lebanese security stand guard on a road that leads to the U.S. Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, June 5, 2024. A gunman was captured by Lebanese soldiers after attempting to attack the U.S. Embassy near Beirut on Wednesday, the military said. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanese security forces near the US embassy in a northern suburb of Beirut. Credit: AP

A gunman has been captured and taken to hospital after he and others exchanged fire with soldiers outside the US embassy near Beirut.

The Lebanese military in a statement said that soldiers shot and wounded an assailant, who they only described as a Syrian national.

Local media reported that the gunfight near the US diplomatic mission in the northern suburb of Aukar went on for half an hour.

A video on social media showed a gunman in a car park across near the embassy's entrance firing with what appears to be an assault rifle.

Lebanese soldiers check a motorcyclist's documents as authorities patrol the area. Credit: AP

A Lebanese security official said there were four assailants, including one who drove the gunmen to the site and three who opened fire.

One shooter was killed, one escaped, and the third was wounded and detained by the Lebanese military, they added.

The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not cleared to speak to media.

In a statement, the US embassy said: “At 8.34am local time, small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance to the US embassy," it said in a statement.

"Thanks to the quick reaction of the LAF, ISF, and our embassy security team, our facility and our team are safe."

Lebanese authorities said the situation had been brought under control. Credit: AP

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

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

It was not immediately clear what the gunmen's motive was. However, Lebanese media have 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.”

The attack took place as tensions continued to simmer in Lebanon, where months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops has displaced thousands along the border, following years of political deadlock and economic hardship.

In 1983, a deadly bombing attack on the US Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. US officials blame the attack on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack struck the new location on Sept. 20, 1984. In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire by the US Embassy. There were no casualties in that attack.

In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces in demonstrations near the U.S. Embassy in support of Gaza’s people and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.


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