The Lebanese army deployed near the American embassy in Beirut on June 5, 2024, following a shooting incident near the consulate. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
The attacker of the American embassy is being pursued for "terrorism," according to a judicial source.
A Lebanese prosecutor has filed charges against a Syrian man who, in early June, opened fire on the American embassy in Lebanon. He is accused of "belonging to the Islamic State" and committing "terrorist acts," a judicial official told AFP on Tuesday.
The Syrian national claimed to be acting in support of Gaza's population amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He fired shots at the American embassy on June 5, before being injured by the army and subsequently arrested.
The embassy reported no casualties, although a security source mentioned that a Lebanese embassy employee sustained an eye injury.
Qaiss Farraj, the Syrian assailant, faces charges of "belonging to the terrorist organization 'Daesh'" — the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group — and for carrying out terrorist actions, the judicial official informed AFP.
The assailant has not yet been interrogated due to severe injuries sustained on June 5. He remains under intensive care at Beirut's military hospital.
Additionally, he was found in possession of unauthorized combat weapons, the official stated anonymously.
Two other individuals are also facing charges for "trafficking military weapons without a permit," according to the same source. They allegedly sold the machine gun and ammunition used in the attack to Qaiss Farraj.
