Local Editor
A prominent Palestinian official was assassinated Tuesday in a car explosion that also killed a passer-by near the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh and a Lebanese Army Baracks.
The source said General Fathi Zaydan, Fatah Movement’s senior officer in the nearby Mieh Mieh refugee camp, was targeted in the explosion that rocked the area, specifically near the Hay al-American roundabout near the southern port city of Sidon.
The explosion hit his car as he left a security meeting he was attending in Mieh Mieh. His body was tossed outside the vehicle and body remains could be seen on the asphalt near the explosion. Meanwhile, military and security forces deployed heavily in the area to prevent any escalation in the situation.
Panicked people could be heard screaming and running after the bomb went off. Students were seen rushing down the street as schools closed their doors.
Relatively, veteran Fatah official Major General Munir Maqdah told media that Zaydan demanded during the meeting of Palestinian factions tightening security measures in Mieh Mieh camp.
Ain al-Hilweh witnessed skirmishes between rival Palestinian and extremist factions over the past few weeks, and has been repeatedly rocked by gun violence and grenade attacks. It is home to a number of extremist militant groups such as Fatah al-Islam and Jund al-Sham, both considered terrorist groups in Lebanon.
Source: Al-Ahed
