Gunshots were fired outside the heavily fortified United States Embassy in Lebanon, according to a spokesperson from the embassy. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in the incident.
The incident occurred at 10:37 PM local time on Wednesday, as small arms fire was reported near the entrance of the U.S. Embassy. In a statement, Embassy spokesperson Jake Nelson reassured the public, saying, “There were no injuries, and our facility is secure. We maintain close communication with the local law enforcement authorities.”
The U.S. Embassy is situated in Awkar, a suburban area north of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
According to local media sources, an unidentified individual armed with a machine gun fired shots at the entrance of the embassy.
This incident comes after the U.S. embassy marked the solemn occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1983 bombing, in which the embassy in Beirut was targeted by a suicide bomber. The devastating attack claimed the lives of 63 people, including 52 Lebanese and American embassy employees.
