On Wednesday morning, Lebanese soldiers thwarted an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, shooting and capturing one gunman identified as a Syrian national with apparent jihadist ties. One embassy security guard was injured during the incident.

The Lebanese military stated that its forces shot the assailant, releasing photos that depicted the attacker wearing a vest with “Islamic State” written in Arabic and “IS” in English. Lebanon, located north of Israel, is the base for the Islamic terror group Hezbollah, which attacked Israel following Hamas’ October 7 terror attack that killed over 1,200 people, including Americans.

“At 8:34 a.m. local time, small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance to the U.S. Embassy. Thanks to the quick reaction of the [Lebanese Armed Forces], [Internal Security Forces], and our Embassy security team, our facility and our team are safe,” the U.S. Embassy Beirut stated on X. “Investigations are underway and we are in close contact with host country law enforcement.”

The embassy spokesman declined to provide details about the injured security guard “with respect to his privacy,” but expressed wishes for a full recovery.

In a similar incident last September, Lebanese forces detained a man who opened fire on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut without causing injuries. Following Hamas’ attack on Israel, Lebanese demonstrators clashed with police near the U.S. Embassy in support of Hamas.

Israel has conducted strikes inside Lebanon since the October 7 attacks, targeting Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and military facilities. Lebanon harbors significant anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has faced multiple attacks over the years. A Hezbollah bombing in 1983 killed 241 U.S. service members and 58 French personnel, leading to the embassy’s relocation from central Beirut to the suburb of Aukar. This new location was bombed in 1984, resulting in 23 deaths, including two American soldiers.