A gunman tries to attack the US Embassy in Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP) — A gunman was captured by Lebanese soldiers after he tried to attack the U.S. Embassy near Beirut on Wednesday, the military said.

The attack came as tensions continued to flare in the tiny Mediterranean country, where months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops have displaced thousands of people along the border after years of political gridlock and economic hardship.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that soldiers shot dead one attacker, whom they described only as a Syrian national. The young man was injured and transported to the hospital.

The shooters’ motives were not clear. However, Lebanese media have released photos that appear to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S”.

Local media reported that there was a nearly half-hour gun battle by the US diplomatic mission in the suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut.

A Lebanese security official told The Associated Press there were four attackers, including one who led the gunmen to the scene and three who opened fire.

One shooter was killed, one escaped, and the third was wounded and detained by the Lebanese army. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The US Embassy said that the early morning attack on the embassy entrance caused no casualties among their personnel and that Lebanese troops and embassy security mobilized quickly.

A statement from the office of Lebanon’s interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, said he had been informed following meetings with the defense minister and army chief that the situation was now stable and serious investigations were underway.

The Lebanese army said it had deployed troops around the embassy and surrounding areas.

In 1983, a deadly bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut killed 63 people. US officials blame the attack on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Aukar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack hit the new location on September 20, 1984.

In September 2023, Lebanese security forces detained a Lebanese man who opened fire by the US Embassy. There were no casualties in that attack.

In October 2023, hundreds of protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces during demonstrations near the US Embassy in support of the people of Gaza and the militant group Hamas in its war with Israel.

Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press