Dramatic shootout erupts at US Embassy in Beirut

A dramatic shootout occurred at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut today, resulting in a wounded gunman and a guard. The Lebanese military reported that the assailant, identified as a Syrian national, opened fire at the embassy before being injured in an exchange of gunfire with troops. Witnesses described hearing 15 to 20 rounds of gunfire, which lasted for nearly half an hour. The motives behind the attack remain unclear, although Lebanese media have circulated images of a suspect wearing a vest marked with \"Islamic State\" in both Arabic and English. The State Department confirmed that the embassy will resume operations tomorrow.

In a separate incident, thousands of ultranationalist Israelis participated in an annual parade in Jerusalem, commemorating the city's capture in 1967. The event, which took place in a predominantly Palestinian area, saw some participants chanting anti-Arab slogans, leading to clashes with police. Authorities reported that 18 marchers were arrested during the unrest.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the northern border with Lebanon, following recent Hezbollah rocket attacks that ignited brush fires in the region. During his visit to a military base, Netanyahu emphasized Israel's readiness to respond decisively to threats, stating, \"Whoever thinks that he will hurt us and we will sit idly by is making a big mistake.\" The ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in significant displacement for communities on both sides of the border.