BEIRUT, LEBANON – A member of the Islamic Jihad drove a truck loaded with over 1100lbs of powerful explosives up the main drive of the US Embassy building. The driver maneuvered through the guards’ gunfire and to the front of the embassy building, where it exploded. The truck with the bomb was of the same type used by staff at the embassy, and was fitted with diplomatic plates to complete the disguise.
The blast killed at least twenty people and injured several others, including Reginald Bartholomew, the ambassador from the United States. He was buried in the rubble, and was eventually rescued by a visiting envoy, David Myers of England.
The casualties increased the body count to 301 for 1983 and 1984. Bombers had previously targeted the embassy building in April 1983, killing 61 people, and a US Marine base that killed 241 people in January 1984. The new embassy building had only been in operation for six weeks before having the front face ripped off by the explosion.
President Reagan told reporters that the US would not back down from terrorists. “You have to live and you have to do your best to protect yourself, but you have to know that these terrorist groups are threatening all over the world,” he said.