A terror attack on the U.S. Embassy in Damascus was foiled by Syrian security forces on Tuesday, whose efforts were hailed by U.S. officials.

Four armed militants launched the attack at about 10:05 a.m. ( 0705 GMT) using hand grenades and machine guns, according to the official SANA news agency.

Intense gunfire was heard in a following gunbattle between Syrian forces and the gunmen, during which three of the militants were killed and one injured while no U.S. casualty was caused.

The district, where many foreign missions, security installations and houses of senior Syrian government officials are located, was sealed off by security guards shortly after the incident.

The attackers used two cars, the first of which failed to ram into the embassy and exploded outside, witnesses told Xinhua.

The other vehicle was a booby-trapped white pickup parked in front of the embassy. The explosive devices hidden in the car were later successfully dismantled by Syrian experts.

A member of Syria's anti-terror squad was killed during the brazen attack and at least 10 people, including a senior Chinese diplomat, were also injured.

Political counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Damascus Li Hongyu, 41, was slightly injured on the face by shrapnel while he was standing atop a garage in the Chinese embassy compound close to the U.S. embassy.

The attack occurred just one day after the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States masterminded by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network.

"It's upset. Yesterday is the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and today this happened," a Russian woman living nearby told Xinhua, who declined to give her name.

"I am very sad about this. But I don't think the Syrians have done this, maybe they are from other countries," she added.

There was no official confirmation of the identity of the attackers.

Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul Majid, in an official response to the attack, said it failed to achieve any of aims while praising the role of anti-terror forces in thwarting the attack and their alertness to protect the nation and citizens.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the two cars used in the attack had been stolen before the incident, the minister said, adding that investigations are still underway.

Majid said that the scene of the terrorist operation, a public street that any car can drive or stop for a while, was exploited by the terrorist group.

Syrian security forces have clashed several times with militant groups and killed dozens and arrested nearly 100 since last summer in an effort to tighten security around the country.

In June, four gunmen and a guard were killed when Syrian security forces said they had foiled an attack by militants near the premises of state-run television in Damascus.

U.S. THANKS SYRIA FOR ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS

U.S. Embassy Charge D'Affaires Michael Corbin hailed on Tuesday Syria for foiling the terror attack against the U.S. Embassy, according to SANA.

Corbin expressed gratitude in a phone call with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Arnous following the attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, currently on a visit to Canada, also thanked Syria for its response to the attack.

"We appreciate the response of the Syrian security forces to help secure our territory," Rice said, adding that American nationals at the embassy were "safe and secure."

"I do think that the Syrians reacted to this attack in a way that helped to secure our people and we very much appreciate that, " she said.

Syrian-U.S. relations have been tense for many years with the two countries split on many issues, including Syria's role in Lebanon, the Middle East conflict and Iraq.

Washington recalled its ambassador to Syria following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February last year, blaming Damascus for the murder. But Syria denied any role in the killing.

Source: Xinhua