1983 — April 18, Terrorism, US Embassy suicide bombing, Beirut, Lebanon –17 U.S. of 63

— 17  ADST. “The Bombing of U.S. Embassy Beirut — April 18, 1983.” Accessed 2-23-2017.

— 17  US CIA. “Flashback: April 18, 1983: U.S. Embassy Attacked in Beirut.” 4-17-2014.

Narrative Information

ADST: “The suicide bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon on April 18, 1983 was the deadliest attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission up to that point. The blast killed 63 people, 17 of whom were Americans. The attack is thought of as the beginning of anti-U.S. attacks from Islamist groups. Along with the Marine Corps barracks bombing that same year, the terrorist attack prompted a review of security measures at the Department of State and led to the creation of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) and the Diplomatic Security Service….” (Assoc. for Diplomatic Studies and Training (Chris Sibilla). “The Bombing of U.S. Embassy Beirut — April 18, 1983.”)

CIA: “On April 18, 1983, a suicide bomber crashed a truck into the front of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, and detonated approximately 2,000 pounds of explosives. The massive blast killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, some of whom were CIA officers.

“Unrest in Lebanon: In September 1982, the Multinational Force in Lebanon, composed of U.S. and European military personnel, entered Lebanon to help the Lebanese government maintain stability during the third phase of the Lebanese Civil War (1982-1983). Extremist groups demanded the departure of U.S. and Israeli personnel, who were on the outskirts of Beirut. Among the most active of these groups were Lebanese Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad Organization. The Islamic Jihad Organization engaged in a campaign of kidnappings and attacks, and claimed responsibility for the Beirut embassy bombing.

“The aftermath of the attacks brought about swift action from Agency and diplomatic officials. Then-Secretary of State George Shultz tasked an advisory panel to investigate the security of diplomatic facilities overseas. The resulting report, informally known as the Inman Report, led to security improvements at embassies, the relocation of many CIA officers to more secure locations, and the creation of the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Diplomatic Security Service, which is the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State.

“The Fallen: The Beirut embassy bombing remains the most lethal attack in the Agency’s history. Several Agency officers were lost; among them were a senior NCS officer visiting the embassy that day, the Agency’s senior officer in Lebanon, and a support officer reporting for her first day at work.  All of the fallen are honored with stars engraved on the CIA Memorial Wall at CIA Headquarters.” (CIA. “Flashback: April 18, 1983: U.S. Embassy Attacked in Beirut.” 4-17-2014.)

Sources

Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (Chris Sibilla). “The Bombing of U.S. Embassy Beirut — April 18, 1983.” Accessed 2-23-2017 at: http://adst.org/2013/04/the-bombing-of-u-s-embassy-beirut-april-18-1983/

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. “Flashback: April 18, 1983: U.S. Embassy Attacked in Beirut.” 4-17-2014. Accessed 2-23-2017 at: https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2014-featured-story-archive/flashback-april-18-1983-u-s-embassy-bombed-in-beirut.html