Shots fired outside US embassy in Lebanon, no injuries reported

BEIRUT

Unidentified gunmen opened fire outside the US Embassy in Beirut late on Wednesday, but there were no injuries, the mission said on Thursday.

Embassy spokesman Jake Nelson said in a statement that the incident took place at 10.37 p.m. local time (1937GMT) in the vicinity of the embassy entrance, and involved the use of small arms.

"There were no injuries, and our facility is safe," he added. "We are in close contact with host country law enforcement authorities."

The US embassy compound is located in the northern Beirut suburb of Awkar, and is a heavily-fortified compound.

The Lebanon 24 news website quoted a source as saying that gunmen in a black vehicle without license plates had opened fire at the mission's entrance before fleeing the scene.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar