FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 20, 2024
Survivors of 1984 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Lebanon File Lawsuit Against Islamic Republic of Iran
Washington, D.C. — A group of survivors from the devastating 1984 bombing of the U.S. Embassy annex in Awkar, Lebanon, have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These plaintiffs, who were contract employees of the U.S. government at the time, sustained life-altering injuries and endured unimaginable trauma in the attack, which claimed 23 lives and marked a dark chapter in the history of U.S. diplomacy.
The lawsuit was filed under the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which allows victims of state-sponsored terrorism to seek justice against foreign governments. Iran, which has been found liable in previous cases for orchestrating the attack through its support of Hezbollah, faces accountability once again for its role in targeting U.S. interests and personnel.
Following Hezbollah's April 18, 1983 attack on the U.S. Embassy In Beirut, Lebanon, the U.S. government reopened the embassy as an "annex" in the Beirut suburb of Awkar. The primary purpose of the relocation was to provide enhanced security and safety. That goal was tragically thwarted when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives, leaving a scene of horrific destruction.
For years, these survivors were unaware of their legal rights to pursue compensation for their injuries and losses. Now, empowered by the recognition of their rights under U.S. law, they are coming forward to seek justice and accountability.
“Victims of terrorism deserve justice, no matter the passage of time,” said Amanda Fox Perry, who represents the plaintiffs. “This case is about holding Iran accountable for its relentless, decades-long campaign of terror. To all victims of Iran-sponsored terrorism, including foreign nationals injured or killed while protecting the people and interests of the United States: you are not forgotten.”
The lawsuit underscores the resilience of the plaintiffs, who, despite the immense physical and emotional toll, remain committed to seeking justice for themselves and honoring the memory of their colleagues who were lost.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys emphasize that this case is an important step in confronting state-sponsored terrorism and providing long-overdue recognition to the survivors of one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. personnel abroad.
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