NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP)  Gunmen opened fire on the Israeli Embassy in Mauritania Friday, setting off a battle with guards that wounded one person, according to Israeli officials and witnesses.

The Israeli ambassador said that the wounded person was a Mauritanian who lived nearby.

Two witnesses said the attack had been carried out by a group of men who shouted “God is Great!” in Arabic before opening fire on the embassy around 2 a.m.

Mauritanian officials issued no immediate comment.

Hamza Ould Bilal, a taxi driver who had been parked outside a nightclub next to the embassy, said six men had gathered outside the club before pulling out weapons and shooting. Embassy guards traded fire with the gunmen, who fled on foot and jumped into a car, Mr. Bilal said.

Ali Fall, a club employee, said several men attacked the embassy with guns before fleeing.

In late December, four French tourists were killed while picnicking in Mauritania, an act the government blamed on a terrorist cell affiliated with Al Qaeda.