Beirut, Lebanon: A Syrian man was apprehended following a shooting incident near the US embassy in Beirut on Wednesday, according to the Lebanese army. The embassy confirmed the safety of its personnel.
The incident occurred at the embassy located in the northern suburb of Awkar. “The embassy was targeted by gunfire from an individual of Syrian nationality,” the army stated on X, formerly Twitter.
“Army personnel in the area responded to the gunfire, injuring the shooter,” the statement continued, noting that “he was arrested and taken to the hospital.”
The army has launched an investigation into the incident.
The US embassy reported that “at 8:34 am local time, small arms fire was heard near the entrance” of the high-security mission.
“Thanks to the swift response” of the Lebanese army, security forces, and the embassy security team, “our facility and personnel are safe,” the embassy stated on X.
It added that “investigations are ongoing, and we are in close contact with local law enforcement.”
In September of the previous year, a gunman fired at the US embassy without causing any injuries. Lebanese police claimed the shooter was a delivery driver seeking revenge for perceived mistreatment by security staff.
That incident coincided with the anniversary of a fatal 1984 car bombing outside the US embassy annex in Beirut, an attack attributed to the Iran-backed Hezbollah by the United States.
US diplomatic and military missions in Lebanon have been targets of several attacks during the 1975-1990 civil war, a period when Islamic fundamentalists also took multiple US hostages.
The embassy relocated to Awkar after a suicide attack in April 1983 killed 63 people at its previous location.
