Palestinian leader survives Israeli assassination attempt in southern Lebanon, son killed

A high-profile leader of a coalition of Palestinian resistance groups has reportedly survived an assassination attempt when the Israeli military launched an airstrike against the most densely populated refugee camp in Lebanon.

Al-Mayadeen television news channel, citing a Palestinian source, reported that Munir al-Maqdah escaped unscathed in the assault on his home in the Ein al-Hilweh camp in the southern coastal city of Sidon late on Monday.

His son, Hassan al-Maqdah, is reported to have been killed in the bombing, which claimed the lives of at least five people and left several more injured.

Al-Maqdah is a brigadier general with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Lebanon, an alliance of Fatah-aligned Palestinian resistance groups, according to reports.

The attack marks the first Israeli air attack on the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp – Lebanon’s largest of several Palestinian camps – since fighting between Hezbollah and Israel began in early October last year.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said roughly 10 rocket launches were detected crossing from southern Lebanon into the northern part of the occupied territories, triggering sirens in the Meron area.

Some of the rockets were intercepted, while others crashed in open areas. No injuries or damage have been reported so far, the army further alleged.