The U.S. Department of State also maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Judea and Samaria.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The United States has extended travel restrictions for U.S. government personnel and their families in Judea and Samaria as Israeli security officials warn that escalating violence could develop into a broader Palestinian uprising resembling the First Intifada.

The U.S. Embassy announced that, because of heightened security concerns and increased regional instability, all personal travel by U.S. government employees and their family members into Judea and Samaria remains temporarily restricted through Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of State also continues to maintain a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Judea and Samaria because of the potential for civil unrest, violence and armed conflict.

The State Department is also advising private American citizens to avoid travel to Judea and Samaria and urged all U.S. citizens to exercise extreme caution.

The advisory warns travelers to be prepared for spontaneous security incidents, roadblocks and possible disruptions to local transportation.

The updated guidance comes as violence has intensified in Judea and Samaria following a gunfight between Palestinians and Israelis on Friday that killed two IDF soldiers.

Israeli security officials are increasingly concerned that a series of deadly attacks and large-scale confrontations could evolve into a widespread popular uprising, according to a report published Sunday by Galei Tzahal, the IDF’s official radio station.

The assessment follows several days of Palestinian terror attacks targeting Israeli civilians and IDF troops.

Security officials told Galei Tzahal military correspondent Doron Kadosh that the “fear barrier has broken” among Palestinians in the area.

According to the report, officials are observing a growing willingness among Palestinian villagers to gather in large numbers and attack Jews traveling near their communities.

The report said the primary concern is not organized terrorist cells carrying out bombings similar to those seen during the Second Intifada.

Instead, security officials are focused on the possibility of a mass uprising resembling the First Intifada, with confrontations spreading from village to village.

Such a scenario could involve large-scale violence, attempts to seize firearms from Israelis and attacks on nearby Jewish communities and agricultural farms, according to Galei Tzahal.

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The new complex is expected to be significantly larger and more secure, consolidating operations and expanding capabilities beyond the current temporary setup.

By Abe Mermelstien, Jewish Breaking News

In the latest diplomatic step, Israel has officially approved the allocation of land in Jerusalem for the construction of a permanent United States Embassy, marking another milestone in the deepening ties between the two nations.

The new embassy is set to be built at the historic Allenby compound in southern Jerusalem, near the Talpiot area.

This land, once used as a military base, sits just inside the 1949 Green Line and has long been considered a prime location for a future permanent diplomatic building.

The decision was approved at the highest levels of the Israeli government and is being framed as a powerful symbol of the enduring U.S.-Israel alliance.

Israelis express that the move represents a “long-term expression” of America’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and its continued commitment to the relationship between the two countries.

The announcement comes years after the United States, under President Donald Trump in his first term, formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated its embassy there.

However, that move was carried out using a temporary location, with plans for a larger, permanent embassy long in discussion.

Now, with land officially approved, the project moves into a more concrete phase.

The new complex is expected to be significantly larger and more secure, consolidating operations and expanding capabilities beyond the current temporary setup.

The timing of the decision is also not to be ignored. It comes during ongoing war and a growing alignment between Israel and the United States in confronting shared threats, particularly from Iran.

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Footage captures the C-RAM Gatling gun firing over the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, as it shoots down a drone during the Iranian regime’s heaviest assault since hostilities began.

תיעוד מטורף שבוצע הלילה : מערכת ה-C-RAM האמריקנית יירטה כטב"מ מעל בגדאד. pic.twitter.com/f5j1kjaeD8

— מה חדש. What's new (@Gloz111) March 17, 2026

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Every time an American or American interest gets hit, U.S. forces should target the highest-ranking person on that list for elimination.

By Michael Rubin, Middle East Forum

A missile hit the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on March 14, 2026, causing minor damage. From the beginning of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, embassy attacks have become the mark of Iran and its proxies.

Not only did the Iranian regime begin its conflict with the United States by seizing the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding fifty-two diplomats hostage for 444 days but, in 1983, Iranian-directed militias bombed the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and Kuwait.

Nor was the March 14, 2026, attack the first on America’s Iraq embassy. In 2019, Iranian-backed Iraqi militias stormed the perimeter of the embassy.

Ignoring the attack would only encourage further attacks. The original seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, for example, was actually the second Iranian attack on that compound.

On February 14, 1979, guerillas attacked the building in the heart of Tehran, taking the U.S. ambassador and approximately 100 diplomats hostage before releasing them.

President Jimmy Carter’s lack of response convinced Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s militants to try again.

Terrorism is a tactic. It works when its benefits outweigh its costs. Accordingly, Trump must act decisively to raise the stakes to Iran and its allies of any attack on U.S. property.

First, just as Trump vetoed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s attempt at a comeback, so, too, should he now make clear that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani is no longer acceptable to Washington because, at a minimum, he has failed to uphold the sanctity of diplomatic property.

Sudani has been a successful prime minister; the infrastructure development on his watch is incredible. He has transformed Baghdad’s skyline.

But second terms are a rarity in Iraq, and so there is no shame in standing down, especially since there are Coalition Framework candidates acceptable to Najaf, Washington, and regional states who demonstrated their capabilities in the background—managing Saddam Hussein’s trial, for example—but are untouched by corruption scandals or any accusation of fealty to Tehran.

Iraq will not see the peace its people deserve until it has a prime minister willing to stand up to militias and assert full sovereignty over Iraqi territory, from Bashiqa to Basra.

Second, Trump or Secretary of War Pete Hegseth should publish a ranked list of pro-Iranian politicians and militia leaders—Maliki, Badr Corps commander Hadi al-Amiri, Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba leader Akram al-Kaabi, and Kata’ib Hezbollah Secretary General Ahmad al-Hamidawi, for example.

Every time an American or American interest gets hit, U.S. forces should target the highest-ranking person on that list for elimination.

The Trump administration should treat not direct culpability as the standard for retaliation, but rather, ideological proximity.

If targets want safety, they should not associate with terrorists. In 1998, for example, President Bill Clinton ordered a retaliatory strike on a Sudanese pharmaceutical plant after Al Qaeda attacked U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

Sudanese and many Western journalists immediately began questioning if the Al-Shifa factory was involved in chemical weapons production, or if its products really were medicines.

This misses the point, however. If the Sudanese regime did not associate with reactionaries and terrorists, it would not need worry about being targeted in any situation.

There was a reason why Clinton chose Sudan and not the Seychelles for his retaliation.

If any Iraqi leaders want to remove themselves from the pro-Iranian militant list, they can either leave Iraq or turn themselves into American forces; otherwise, each should consider themselves dead men walking.

In many cases, they employ their sons, cousins, and nephews as trusted aides.

In such a circumstance, Trump or Hegseth should make clear that the U.S. planners will not view family members who remain in proximity as anything more than collaborators, and that a human shield strategy will fail.

The Islamic Republic and its militias target American property and Americans themselves because they believe that they can get away with it.

Maliki and al-Amiri might whine that they are not responsible if the missiles originated inside Iran, but the White House should dismiss their complaints for two reasons.

First, they have value to the Iranian regime and so their elimination would have value to Washington. Second, Iraqi militiamen regularly help Iranians with targeting by sending GPS coordinates and other data.

For too long, Americans have played softball in Iraq. It is time to show the Iranians and their Iraqi proxies what happens when they touch an embassy or a diplomat.

The post How should Trump respond to the missile strike at the US embassy in Baghdad? appeared first on World Israel News.

Six drones were launched toward the compound. Five were intercepted before reaching the site, while one penetrated the defenses and struck near a guard tower.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A suspected militia drone strike damaged a U.S. diplomatic logistics compound in Baghdad on Tuesday, in what officials believe was retaliation linked to the ongoing U.S.- and Israel-led war against Iran, according to a security official and material examined by The Washington Post.

The facility struck was the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, a large operational hub used to sustain U.S. diplomatic activity and located close to Iraqi military installations and Baghdad’s airport, an area that has repeatedly come under attack since the start of the U.S. offensive.

Air defenses engaged multiple incoming aircraft during the incident.

A security official said six drones were launched toward the compound. Five were intercepted before reaching the site, while one penetrated the defenses and struck near a guard tower.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter involves a sensitive security situation, said no casualties had been confirmed.

An internal State Department alert reviewed by The Washington Post said personnel inside the compound were ordered to “duck and cover” following the impact. The message said the drone struck near a guard tower and noted that “accountability is ongoing.”

Washington blamed Iranian-aligned armed groups for the assault. The State Department said Wednesday that it “strongly condemns these attacks on our diplomatic facilities in Iraq” by “Iran-backed terrorist militias.”

“We remain in close contact with the government of Iraq regarding steps to protect U.S. personnel and facilities,” the department said in a statement.

Authorities in Baghdad also responded. Iraq’s Defense Ministry condemned attacks that occurred near Iraqi military bases but did not mention damage to the American facility.

“The Ministry of Defense stresses that it will not stand by as a spectator. Rather, it will firmly confront and pursue … all parties involved,” the ministry said.

According to the security official, the attack was likely carried out by fighters linked to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-supported armed groups that has increased operations since Feb. 28, when U.S. and Israeli combat operations killed Iran’s supreme leader.

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U.S. embassies across the Middle East have increased security measures amid “Operation Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

By JNS

The U.S. Embassy in Norway was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, according to Oslo police. No injuries were reported in the incident.

The blast, which was reported around 1:00 a.m. local time, caused “minor material damage” to the entrance of one of the embassy’s buildings, according to a police statement cited by AFP.

“Police view such incidents in public spaces as very serious, and are investigating the case with substantial resources and high priority,” police added.

Investigators were said to have arrived at the scene, while police dogs, drones and helicopters were deployed to search for “one or more potential perpetrators,” according to the statement.

JUST IN: Norway police CONFIRM that the US Embassy is Oslo was targeted by an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, detonating around 1AM near the entrance

Minor injuries and damage reported

We're facing Islamic TERROR CELLS worldwide. Keep Americans safe at all costs!pic.twitter.com/6jzHlu9Kmv

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 8, 2026

Oslo police commander Michael Dellemyr told the local TV2 outlet that authorities “have an idea of the cause,” adding that “it appears to us that this is an act carried out by someone.”

A bomb squad was dispatched to the scene, according to the TV2 report.

U.S. embassies across the Middle East have increased security measures amid “Operation Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which Washington launched in conjunction with Jerusalem on Feb. 28.

However, Dellemyr told TV2 that it was “too early” to connect the incident to the conflict.

Anti-American protests in Pakistan on March 2 ended with the deaths of at least 22 people at U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore as thousands protested the fighting between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Tehran.

Following the news that Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was killed in the opening strike of the war, hundreds of Iraqis attempted to storm Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, where the U.S. embassy is located.

Meanwhile, Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Athens, Greece, on March 1, to protest the Iran campaign.

The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem has directed all government employees and their family members to “continue to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice.”

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Fire breaks out at American embassy in Riyadh after being struck by Iranian suicide drones.

By World Israel News Staff

A fire broke out at the United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before dawn Tuesday morning after the facility was struck by two Iranian suicide drones.

According to Saudi Defense Ministry officials, the drone impacts caused minor damage to the embassy building.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast at the embassy, followed by flames and black smoke.

Immediately after the attack, the US State Department instructed embassy staff members to shelter in place at all three locations of the US mission to Saudi Arabia.

The State Department also urged all US citizens in the kingdom to shelter in place and to avoid the embassy.

Hours later, the embassy announced that all appointments at the facility have been canceled and advised the public to steer clear of the embassy, amid fears of follow-up attacks.

“Avoid the Embassy until further notice due to an attack on the facility,” the embassy wrote on its X account. “We continue to limit non-essential travel to any military installations in the region.”

No casualties were reported in the drone attack or the subsequent fire.

According to a report by CNN, Iran’s successful penetration of Saudi Arabia’s air defenses has sparked alarm among US-aligned Arab states.

In a separate attack, Iranian drones struck an Australian air base in the United Arab Emirates.

The bombing of the Al Minhad Air Base did not result in any casualties, Canberra said.

Shortly after the Riyadh attack, President Donald Trump told NewsNation that the US would retaliate “soon” for the embassy bombing.

“You will find out soon,” Trump said regarding America’s response.

After the embassy strike, the Saudi Defense Ministry announced that the military intercepted eight Iranian suicide drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj.

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In Karachi and Baghdad, security forces thwarted attempts to storm American diplomatic facilities.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

At least 10 protesters were killed Sunday in clashes with police in Karachi, Pakistan, after some 4,000 pro-Iranian Shiites stormed the American consulate in the port city following the death of Iran’s leader in the joint U.S.-Israel attack on the Islamic Republic early Saturday morning.

Around 25 others were wounded as the authorities battled stone-throwing youths for hours.

Hundreds of police officers and paramilitary personnel were deployed to secure the building.

Witnesses heard gunfire and saw police respond with tear gas as well.

Others said some demonstrators managed to get close enough to the building to smash some of the windows, although senior police official Irfan Baloch denied reports that parts of the consulate had been set on fire.

While Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that “every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran” over the “martyrdom” of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and described it as a “day of mourning,” he urged people to express their anger in a peaceful manner.

Protesters held mostly nonviolent demonstrations near the American consulate in Lahore and in other cities and called for a rally outside the American embassy in the capital of Islamabad.

Police announced the closure of all roads leading to the embassy’s neighborhood, which houses many diplomatic missions.

In Iraq, hundreds of furious protesters denouncing the US and Israel tried to approach the American embassy in Baghdad’s secure diplomatic district, commonly called the Green Zone.

Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and batons to thwart repeated attempts to reach the heavily guarded area.

Some demonstrators carried the Iranian flag and pictures of Khamenei.

One told AFP, “We are here to respond to Khamenei’s martyrdom, and I want us to fight the U.S. and Israel.”

Local media reported additional protests in southern Iraqi provinces.

Several Iran-backed armed militias operate in Iraq, several of which threatened Saturday to attack local U.S. bases after two missile strikes hit Kataib Hezbollah, one of the largest groups, reportedly killing two fighters and injuring five others.

An umbrella group calling itself the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” later claimed responsibility for carrying out 16 operations using “dozens of drones” against what it said were “enemy bases in Iraq and the region.”

On Sunday, the Iraqi government condemned the American and Israeli strikes on Iran as a “flagrant aggression” and violation of international law, called for them to end, and declared three days of mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei.

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‘If any staffers or family members want to depart, they should do so TODAY,’ Huckabee wrote.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The US Embassy in Israel has advised non-emergency personnel and their family members to leave the country immediately, citing rising regional security risks and concerns about a potential conflict with Iran, according to multiple media reports.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sent an email to embassy staff on Friday morning urging those who wish to depart to do so right away, The New York Times reported, citing three people who verified the message.

The email was sent at 10:24 a.m. local time, according to the report.

“If any staffers or family members want to depart, they should do so TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, according to the Times.

He warned that the embassy’s guidance would “likely result in high demand for airline seats today” and instructed staff to focus on securing a seat to any destination from which onward travel to Washington could be arranged. “The first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country,” he wrote.

Huckabee sought to temper alarm, telling staff there was “no need to panic,” but emphasized that those considering departure should make plans “sooner rather than later.”

The advisory comes amid continued negotiations between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, which have yet to produce a clear breakthrough.

At the same time, Washington has increased its military presence in the Middle East, while Iran has warned it would retaliate against US bases and regional allies, including Israel, in the event of a conflict.

The embassy’s guidance also advises US citizens to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights remain available, reflecting concern that conditions could deteriorate rapidly.

The New York Times reported that US officials said any military action currently under discussion would likely be limited, focusing on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

The newspaper cited American officials who expressed doubt that Iran is prepared to finalize a deal, while saying targeted strikes are being viewed as a way to pressure Iranian leaders into concessions.

ABC News reported Thursday that Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, is preparing to brief President Donald Trump on potential military options involving Iran. According to the report, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Cain has also been involved in the briefing process, and a joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran remains under active consideration.

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The evacuation comes as concerns grow that Lebanon could be drawn into a wider regional confrontation.

By World Israel News Staff

Dozens of staff members were evacuated Monday from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon through Beirut’s airport as a precautionary measure tied to anticipated regional developments, Lebanese outlet LBCI reported, citing informed sources.

The move was described as preventive, with officials expected to issue a statement clarifying the step and any potential operational impact.

The reported evacuation comes as concerns grow that Lebanon could be drawn into a wider regional confrontation if tensions between Israel, Iran, and the United States escalate.

Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy force in the region, maintains a significant military presence along Israel’s northern border and has been involved in repeated cross-border exchanges since the start of the Gaza war.

Over the weekend, Saudi outlet Al-Arabiya reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has increased its direct involvement in Hezbollah’s operations, with officers recently arriving in Lebanon to help reorganize the group’s military capabilities and brief fighters amid fears of a broader conflict.

At the same time, Iran-aligned groups across the region have raised their level of preparedness.

Regional reports indicate Yemen’s Houthi movement has elevated nationwide alert levels in anticipation of potential “aggression,” while Iraq’s Iran-backed militias are also preparing for possible escalation.

The London-based Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported concerns among Iraqi officials that renewed militia involvement in external conflicts could again draw the country into instability.

The developments come as regional tensions continue to rise and diplomatic efforts appear increasingly fragile, with the United States signaling it is prepared to launch a major military response if negotiations fail, raising fears that any escalation could quickly spread across multiple fronts.

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President Trump marked the 50th anniversary of American Christian Leaders for Israel with a message celebrating the U.S.-Israel alliance, highlighting his move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as Israel’s “one and only” capital.

The post WATCH: ‘Jerusalem is Israel’s one and only capital,’ says Trump appeared first on World Israel News.

Some American embassy and staff and families of diplomats are being evacuated from Israel, as fears of broader conflict grow.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

The United States Embassy in Israel has started evacuating non-essential staff and diplomats’ families from Israel, an official confirmed to the Associated Press.

The evacuation comes as the conflict between Israel and Iran ramps up, with speculation that the U.S. will soon join the fighting.

Since the outbreak of the war on June 13th, Iran has launched heavy ballistic missile barrages on the Jewish State, which have killed 24 people and wounded at least 500.

Israel’s airspace has been closed since last Friday, leaving tens of thousands of Israelis stranded outside the country’s borders.

While tourists, diplomats, and Israeli citizens can leave Israel by using its land borders with Egypt and Jordan, numerous countries, including the U.S., have hinted at arranging rescue flights, which would see Israel’s airspace temporarily reponed for repatriation purposes.

“Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel … is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote in an X post on Wednesday.

“You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will be alerted w/ updates,” Huckabee added.

However, the U.S. State Department said in a statement following Huckabee’s tweet that it had “no announcement about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time.”

On Monday, the U.S. State Department on Monday elevated its travel advisory for Israel to a Level 4 “do not travel,” its most severe warning.

Japan, China and Indonesia said on Thursday morning that they are gearing up to help repatriate their citizens who are currently in Israel and Iran.

The Chinese Embassy said it was organizing buses to transport its citizens to the Taba border crossing with Egypt, near the Red Sea port city of Eilat.

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Non-essential staff ordered to leave Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait as military escalation fears grow over Iran’s nuclear program and threats against US forces.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

The United States is preparing to evacuate non-essential personnel from its embassy in Baghdad and has authorized departures from diplomatic missions in Bahrain and Kuwait, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, US officials confirmed on Wednesday.

While the US Embassy in Baghdad has already operated with reduced staff, the new order reflects growing concern over the potential for violence in the region, according to the US Associated Press news agency.

The Pentagon is on standby to assist in a possible evacuation, according to a US defense official.

The precautionary moves come as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s advancing nuclear program appear to have stalled.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors is expected to vote this week on a resolution censuring Iran — potentially triggering the reimposition of United Nations sanctions under provisions of the 2015 nuclear deal, which technically remains in effect until October.

Iran, for its part, has responded with escalating rhetoric.

On Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters that while Tehran still hopes for a diplomatic resolution, it is fully prepared for conflict.

“If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent’s casualties will certainly be more than ours,” Nasirzadeh warned.

“America must leave the region because all its bases are within our reach, and we will target all of them in the host countries without hesitation.”

In a separate post on social media, Iran’s mission to the UN dismissed US pressure tactics, saying: “Threats of overwhelming force won’t change the facts. Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability.”

The United Kingdom also issued a rare maritime security advisory on Wednesday through its Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center, warning of increased regional tensions that could “lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.”

The advisory urged caution in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz — critical shipping lanes near Iranian waters that have been flashpoints for conflict in the past, the Israeli Ynet news website reported.

Although the UKMTO did not name Iran, the timing of the alert added urgency to mounting fears of military confrontation.

Meanwhile, in Israel, speculation is growing that a preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities could be imminent.

Yaakov Bardugo, a media figure closely tied to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Israel Radio on Tuesday: “In my view, we are very close to striking Iran. The Americans aren’t delivering results.”

With diplomacy faltering and military posturing on the rise, the region appears to be edging closer to a broader confrontation — one that could endanger US personnel and destabilize vital energy and trade routes across the Middle East.

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The same building was vandalized in April, while the American mission in Melbourne was graffitied by pro-Hamas demonstrators in May.

By JNS

The American consulate in Sydney, Australia was vandalized overnight Sunday, with nine windows being broken and pro-Hamas graffiti being sprayed on the door.

Two inverted red triangles were painted over the coat of arms on the consulate’s entrance by a person carrying a small sledgehammer, according to New South Wales police.

Hamas uses the symbol in video and pictures to mark targets for attack.

“I would just say that people should have respectful political debate and discourse,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a televised media conference from the capital Canberra.

“Measures such as painting the U.S. consulate do nothing to advance the cause of those who have committed what is of course a crime, to damage property,” he added.

The same building was vandalized in April, while the American mission in Melbourne was graffitied by pro-Hamas demonstrators in May.

On Wednesday, a member of the “local guard force” at the heavily fortified U.S. Embassy in Beirut was seriously injured in a “shooting incident” outside the mission.

“We are aware that the individual who was arrested was wearing what appeared to be ISIS insignia, but we are conducting a full investigation with the Lebanese authorities on the actual motivations,” said U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller.

According to Arabic-language reports, three gunmen fired on the embassy, although Miller declined to comment on the number of shooters.

Local media reported the gunfight lasted for almost half an hour.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1800066277689684191

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Local media reported the gunfight lasted for almost half an hour.

By JNS

Lebanon’s security agencies have launched an investigation into a Wednesday morning shooting outside the heavily fortified U.S. Embassy in Aukar, a northern suburb of Beirut.

The unidentified assailant was injured during the attack and was evacuated to hospital. The motive behind the attack remain unclear.

At “8:34 a.m. local time, small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance to the embassy,” the embassy said. “Our facility and team are safe,” the statement added.

The United States and Lebanon were “in close contact” to determine the circumstances of the incident, according to the embassy.

According to local reports, three gunmen fired on the embassy, with a Lebanese security official confirming this to The National, a state-owned English-language daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi.

The newspaper also reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces identified the shooter as a Syrian. A diplomatic source told The National that an embassy guard was shot in the incident.

Local media reported the gunfight lasted for almost half an hour.

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The Palestinian Affairs Unit announced the meeting in a Twitter post in Arabic, which for some reason has since been deleted.

By Baruch Yedid, TPS

The Palestinian Affairs Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Israel hosted a meeting Tuesday between Israeli and Palestinian businessmen.

It was chaired by Hady Amr, a U.S. State Department official who is visiting the area and was scheduled to meet with Hussein Al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Civil Affairs.

The Unit announced the meeting in a Twitter post in Arabic, which for sme reason has since been deleted. But TPS was able to preserve an image of the March 15th tweet:

“A fruitful discussion took place between the Assistant Foreign Minister for Middle East Affairs and Israeli and Palestinian businessmen for the purpose of promoting economic development,” read the announcement. “Real improvements are the key to freedom, security and prosperity for all.”

Sources in Ramallah told TPS that they welcomed the meeting, but they also criticized the “effort to promote economic peace and evade political negotiations.” A number of Palestinian businessmen who took part in the meeting were apparently surprised to hear about its publication by the Embassy.

One of the participants in the meeting told TPS, “It was clear that Mr. Hady Amr was very frustrated by the situation and was trying his best to advance some issues, but I do not see any horizon. We and the Israelis agree on specific steps required and asked for help from the U.S.”

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