On Wednesday, a Syrian man was arrested by the Lebanese army after a shooting incident near the US embassy in Beirut. The US embassy reported that all its personnel were safe and unharmed.
The details of the incident are still unclear, and the investigation is currently ongoing. We hope that the situation will be resolved soon, and the authorities will provide more information once it becomes available.
The embassy, in the northern suburb of Awkar, “was subjected to gunfire by a person holding Syrian nationality”, the army said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“Army personnel deployed in the area responded to the sources of fire, wounding the shooter,” the statement said, adding that “he was arrested and transported to hospital”.
The army said it was investigating the incident.
The US embassy said that “at 8:34 am local time small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance” to the high-security mission.
“Thanks to the quick reaction” of the Lebanese army, security forces “and our Embassy security team, our facility and our team are safe” it said on X.
It added that “investigations are underway and we are in close contact with host country law enforcement”.
In a concerning incident near the US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, a Syrian man was arrested on Wednesday following a shooting. The Lebanese army confirmed the arrest, while the US embassy assured the public that its personnel were safe.
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According to reports, the embassy encountered gunfire from an individual of Syrian nationality. Prompt action was taken by the army, who swiftly responded to the source of the gunfire, injuring the shooter before apprehending him. The suspect was then transported to the hospital for treatment.
The incident is currently under investigation, and the US embassy expressed gratitude for the timely response from the Lebanese army, as well as the efforts of the security forces and embassy security team in ensuring the safety of the facility and its staff.
The embassy also stated that they are closely coordinating with the local law enforcement authorities as the investigations proceed.
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It is worth noting that a similar incident occurred in September of the previous year, when a gunman targeted the US embassy. On that occasion, Lebanese police alleged that the shooter, a delivery driver, sought revenge for perceived mistreatment by security personnel.
This incident coincided with the anniversary of a 1984 car bombing near the US embassy, which was attributed to the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
During the civil war in Lebanon from 1975 to 1990, US diplomatic and military missions faced several attacks by Islamic fundamentalists, who also took a number of US hostages.
As a result of a devastating suicide attack in April 1983 that claimed the lives of 63 individuals, including embassy staff, the US embassy relocated to its current location in Awkar. The situation remains a matter of concern, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
