Iran Held Responsible for 1983 Beirut Bombing

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth blamed Iran for a 1983 suicide truck bombing that killed 241 Americans, mostly U.S. Marines, in Beirut. He said Tehran would have to pay damages in a lawsuit by 153 survivors and relatives. Lamberth said the attack was carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah with approval and funding of senior Iranian officials.

Iran never responded to the suit, and damages have yet to be decided. The U.S. has been reluctant to seize assets to pay judgments, fearing retaliation by other countries. Some plaintiffs in other cases have received Treasury Department funds.