BEIRUT (Reuters) -A gunman fired shots at the U.S. embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday and was wounded in an exchange of fire with troops, the Lebanese army said.
The army detained the attacker, a Syrian national, and took him to the hospital for treatment. Soldiers are searching the area for other gunmen.
The U.S. embassy said small arms fire was reported near its entrance in the morning but that the facility and staff were safe. U.S. ambassador Lisa Johnson is currently travelling outside Lebanon, according to diplomatic sources.
A Lebanese security source informed Reuters that a member of the embassy’s security team sustained minor injuries. White House adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the guard is receiving treatment.
The embassy will close Wednesday but reopen Thursday, June 6, for regular business hours.
No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Reuters reported that the army is investigating possible links to the Islamic State group.
The source stated the attacker had “ISIS” in English and “Islamic State” in Arabic written on his clothes. Lebanese security forces detained two sheikhs and the attacker’s family.
Reuters verified pictures of the suspected attacker circulating online and geolocated them near the embassy. Reuters confirmed part of the Arabic writing on his vest, which read “Islamic.”
Furthermore, the US embassy attack has significant geopolitical repercussions. It underscores the need for heightened security and robust diplomatic strategies in volatile regions.
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