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.
Robert S. Dillon was Ambassador to Lebanon when the U.S. embassy was bombed. In his interview, Ambassador Dillon recounts where he was at the time of the explosion, the Hezbollah terrorists and the issues with embassy security, and how the attack changed his life. You can read Diane Dillard‘s account as a consular officer.
Read Full Article »