A gunman attacked the U.S. Embassy in Beirut early Wednesday morning before being apprehended by Lebanese soldiers.

The attacker, who opened fire at 8:37 a.m. local time, was shot and wounded by Lebanese troops before being taken to hospital. The gunfight lasted around 30 minutes, and no embassy staff were harmed during the attack. The Lebanese military identified the gunman as a Syrian national.


In a statement released after the attack, the embassy praised the quick response of Lebanese troops and its own security personnel, saying: “Thanks to the quick reaction of the LAF, ISF, and our Embassy security team, our facility and our team are safe. Investigations are underway and we are in close contact with host country law enforcement.”

This is not the first attack on U.S. diplomatic missions in Lebanon. In 1983, a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people, an attack attributed to Hezbollah. The embassy subsequently moved to Aukar, which also faced a bomb attack in 1984. More recently, in September 2023, a man opened fire near the embassy, and in October 2023, protests near the embassy led to clashes with Lebanese security forces.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in Lebanon due to recent clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces, displacing thousands along Lebanon’s southern border.

While a motivation for the attack has not yet been confirmed, Lebanese media have published several photos that allegedly show the attacker wearing a shirt with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic, along with the initials “I” and “S” in English.

A statement issued by the Lebanon armed forces after the gunman was taken into custody said: “Army units deployed around the US Embassy in Awkar are conducting an inspection of the surrounding area and working to implement the necessary security measures to maintain the security of the area.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that the situation was now stable following meetings with the defense minister and army commander. Mikati also said that serious investigations would be taken to uncover the motives and any potential accomplices of the attackers.

Newsweek contacted the Lebanese Prime Minister’s office and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut for further comment.

A Lebanese security official told the Associated Press that there were originally four assailants, including one who drove the gunmen to the site and three who opened fire.


The Lebanese military has increased security around the U.S. Embassy and surrounding areas to prevent any further incidents, according to AP.