A Lebanese judicial source reported today, Saturday, that twenty individuals have been arrested following the shooting at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday, including the attacker, who holds Syrian nationality. The Lebanese army stated on the day of the incident that its personnel "stationed in the area responded to the sources of gunfire, resulting in the shooter being injured, arrested, and transferred to a hospital for treatment." The U.S. Embassy, located in a secure compound in northern Beirut, confirmed that all staff members are "safe."
The judicial source overseeing the initial investigations conducted by the military intelligence and the information branch of the internal security forces stated today that "the number of detainees in the armed attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut has risen to 20, including the assailant, Qais Farraj, who is still receiving treatment at the military hospital in Beirut." The source noted that among the detainees are the shooter's father and brother, as well as religious leaders, "who (the shooter) was attending religious lessons with."
The source explained that there is an "security assessment being conducted on those close to the assailant to determine if there is a security cell linked to ISIS or other terrorist organizations." It was added that "the indicators and available information so far rule out the presence of an organized security operation." Following the attack, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the department is aware that the arrested individual was wearing "an ISIS insignia." He noted that the United States is "conducting a full investigation with the Lebanese authorities to uncover the actual motives."
The judicial source also mentioned that "the Israeli war on Gaza is the motivator for this operation." Last September, a man opened fire at the U.S. Embassy, but that attack did not result in any casualties. Lebanese authorities announced his arrest, stating that he was a delivery worker who wanted "revenge" after being insulted by a security personnel.
