Lebanese particular forces sit of their car as they patrol on a highway that results in the U.S. Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon on June 5, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP

A gunman was captured by Lebanese troopers after trying to assault the U.S. Embassy close to Beirut on June 5, the army stated.

The assault passed off as tensions continued to simmer within the tiny Mediterranean nation, the place months of fighting 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 shooters motives weren’t clear. Nonetheless, Lebanese media have revealed photographs 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 for nearly half an hour by the U.S. diplomatic mission within the suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut.

A Lebanese safety official instructed The Related Press that there have been 4 assailants, together with one who drove the gunmen to the location and three who opened hearth.

One shooter was killed, one escaped, and the third was wounded and detained by the Lebanese army. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t cleared to talk to the press.

The U.S. Embassy stated the morning assault by the embassy’s entrance didn’t trigger any casualties amongst their employees, and that Lebanese troops and embassy safety mobilised rapidly.

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 secure 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 folks. 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 September 20, 1984.

In September 2023, Lebanese safety forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire by the U.S. Embassy. There have been no casualties in that assault.

In October 2023, tons of of protesters clashed with Lebanese safety forces in demonstrations close to the U.S. Embassy in help of Gaza’s people and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.