AUKAR, Lebanon (AP) 鈥� A gunman who attacked the U.S. embassy near Beirut was shot and captured by Lebanese soldiers after a Wednesday morning shootout that injured an embassy security guard, the military and embassy officials said.
The attack took place as tensions simmered in the tiny Mediterranean country, where months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops has displaced thousands along the border, following years of political deadlock and economic hardship.
Local media reported that there was a gunfight involving at least one attacker and lasting almost half an hour.
Joe Abdo, who works at a gas station near the compound said he heard 鈥渁round 15 to 20 rounds of gunfire鈥� while working that morning. 鈥淲e ran here to see what鈥檚 happening and suddenly, the army blocked us from going up,鈥� he told The Associated Press.
No motive was immediately clear, but Lebanese media have published photos that appear to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words 鈥淚slamic State鈥� written in Arabic and the English initials 鈥淚鈥� and 鈥淪.鈥�
The Islamic State has not claimed the attack, nor has any other group.
A Lebanese security official and two judicial officials familiar with the case said the gunman appeared to be a lone attacker. They identified him as a resident of the eastern Lebanese border town of Majdal Anjar near Syria. Earlier, the Lebanese military identified the suspect as a Syrian national.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not cleared to speak to the press.
The military raided both Majdal Anjar and nearby Suweiri, the Lebanese army said in a statement, where it arrested three relatives of the suspect and two other people believed to be associated with him.
The officials said they did not find other gunmen or evidence of a possible extremist cell.
The suspect was shot in the stomach and leg before being captured and taken to the military hospital in Beirut, according to the officials.
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said in a statement that one embassy security guard was injured in the attack.
鈥淲ith respect to his privacy we cannot say more, but we wish him a full recovery,鈥� said the spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations.
A statement from Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati鈥檚 office said that he was informed following meetings with the defense minister and army commander that the situation was now stable and that serious investigations are underway.
The Lebanese military said it deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas.
In 1983, a deadly bombing attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. U.S. officials blame the attack on the .
Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack struck the new location on Sept. 20, 1984.
In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who . There were no casualties in that attack.
In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces in demonstrations near the U.S. Embassy in support of Gaza鈥檚 people and the militant group .
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Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.
Kareem Chehayeb And Lujain Jo, The Associated Press
