Car bomb kills Fatah official in southern Lebanon

By Hamza Tekin

BEIRUT

Fathi Zeidan, a leading member of the Palestinian Fatah movement, was killed by a car bomb in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, according to a Lebanese security source.

The incident reportedly occurred outside the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon’s southern city of Sidon.

The source, who insisted on anonymity due to official restrictions on speaking to the media, told Anadolu Agency that an "explosive device" had been planted in Zeidan’s car.

"The blast killed Zeidan and left four others injured," he said, without providing the identities of the wounded individuals.

The source went on to note that, before his assassination, Zeidan had attended a "security meeting" at the Ain al-Hilweh camp aimed at coordinating camp security.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a press statement, Fathi Abu al-Ardat, a Fatah official based in Lebanon, described Zeidan as "a great freedom fighter", adding that his assassination represented a "dangerous escalation".

*Ali Abo Rezig contributed to this report