Lebanon’s authorities have arrested 20 individuals following a shooting near the US embassy in Beirut, which was reportedly carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, a judicial source informed AFP on Saturday.
A Syrian man was apprehended on Wednesday after the shooting at the embassy. At the time, a judicial official stated that the attack was conducted “in support of Gaza.”
The US embassy confirmed on X that “small arms fire was reported near the entrance” and credited the Lebanese army, security forces, and embassy security team for ensuring the safety of the facility and staff.
The judicial source reported on Saturday that the number of arrests related to the embassy attack has increased to 20, including the Syrian assailant Qais Farraj, who is currently receiving care at the military hospital in Beirut.
Those detained include Farraj’s father, and brother, clerics who provided him with religious lessons, and individuals with whom he had regular contact.
The ongoing investigation, overseen by intelligence services, aims to determine whether any suspects have connections to an Islamic State group cell or other militant groups. The current evidence suggests that the attack was likely not part of an organized operation.
A security official previously told AFP that the gunman acted “alone,” and a Lebanese national working for the embassy sustained a minor eye injury during the incident.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted that Washington is aware that the arrested individual appeared to be wearing “ISIS insignia” and stated that the US is conducting a thorough investigation with Lebanese authorities to uncover the attacker’s true motivations.
