Gunman Captured After Shooting At U.S Embassy In Lebanon, Israel Is 'Prepared For Strong Action'

Gunfire erupted at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday, resulting in an exchange of fire with troops and injuring the assailant, identified as a Syrian national, according to the Lebanese army.

Following the incident, the attacker was transported to a hospital for medical treatment while soldiers commenced a thorough search of the vicinity.

Confirming the incident, the U.S. Embassy reported that small arms fire occurred in the vicinity of its entrance earlier in the day. Both the facility and its personnel remained unharmed.

Sources revealed that a member of the embassy's security team sustained injuries during the attack, with Lebanese soldiers successfully neutralizing the assailant by inflicting a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Situated in a heavily fortified area north of Beirut, the embassy is shielded by numerous checkpoints along its access route, a relocation that followed a devastating suicide bombing in 1983, claiming the lives of over 60 individuals.

This recent incident follows previous security breaches in September, where gunfire was reported near the embassy, but resulted in zero casualties. In October, when protesters converged outside the embassy during the early stages of the Gaza conflict, Lebanese security was forced to disperse tear gas and water cannons.

The ongoing tensions in Lebanon, compounded by the conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, coincide with the Gaza war, leading to mass displacement along the Israel-Lebanon border and exacerbating concerns of further escalation.

Amidst the escalating conflict, the United States has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to mitigate hostilities along the border.

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