Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, currently on an official visit to New York, expressed his vehement condemnation of the attack on the US embassy in Awkar during a phone conversation with US Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, on Thursday.
Minister Bou Habib underscored the imperative of holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions and urged the imposition of the most severe penalties against them. He emphasized Lebanon’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the requisite protection for foreign diplomatic missions, as mandated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Lebanese security agencies have launched an investigation into the incident, which involved a late-night shooting outside the heavily fortified U.S. Embassy located just north of Beirut. Fortunately, there were no casualties resulting from the small-arms fire.
The gunfire erupted near the entrance to the embassy compound in the northeastern suburb of Aukar on Wednesday night. As of now, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the motivations behind it remain unclear.
Following the incident, Lebanese military authorities took immediate measures and initiated an investigation, which includes the analysis of security camera footage from the vicinity, according to an anonymous Lebanese official, in compliance with regulations.
Notably, at least five bullet holes were marked on the wall adjacent to the embassy’s entrance by Lebanese military police. While heightened security measures were observed, the road leading to the embassy remained open.
