COVID-19 Outbreak Threatens Lebanon’s Health Safety

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) delivered on Monday medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) delivered on Monday medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals (SPA)
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COVID-19 Outbreak Threatens Lebanon’s Health Safety

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) delivered on Monday medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) delivered on Monday medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals (SPA)

The Lebanese Health Ministry warned Monday that the pandemic has reached a dangerous stage as the country witnessed record-high COVID-19 cases and deaths.

“The pandemic has extended in several Lebanese regions. Health safety is in danger and everyone must possess a high sense of responsibility,” said Health Minister Hamad Hassan.

And amid the spread of rumors about fake COVID-19 death tolls issued by the Health Ministry, Hassan called on the Lebanese not to listen to such false news.

He wrote on his Twitter account, “There is no compensation or aid to the families of the victims who die of coronavirus, contrary to all the rumors," adding that "all that is being circulated may be for the purpose of thwarting the strenuous efforts to fight the epidemic, belittling it or justifying a specific medical shortcoming or for some purpose."

On Monday, the Health Ministry said 457 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed, raising the tally of infected people in the country to 13,155.

Last Friday, the country entered a partial lockdown, which is set to end on 7 September.

And despite a decision to close most businesses, gathering spots, and private and public spaces, and a daily curfew imposed between 6 pm and 6 am daily activities in Lebanon seemed quite normal in several cities.

Even Beirut’s main entrances witnessed too much traffic, while a large number of merchants refused to close their shops in light of the dire economic crisis.

For his part, Nicolas Chammas, the chairman of Beirut Merchants Association, announced a “total rejection of the lockdown in light of the failure of the state to provide an alternative income for the people, and the restrictions on access to money deposited in banks.”

Meanwhile, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) continued delivering medical assistance to Lebanese hospitals that provide free medical services. The center delivered to Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut medical aids, in the presence of the Director of KSrelief's Office in Lebanon, Fahad Al-Qannas, and the Secretary-General of High Relief Commission in Lebanon, Major General Mohammad Khair.

Khair, thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for the urgent humanitarian aid provided through the Center, noting that the Kingdom has always stood in solidarity with the Lebanese people in times of crisis, most recently after Beirut's port explosion.



Türkiye, Israel Have Begun Talks to Avoid Clashes in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends an interview with Reuters, in Brussels, Belgium April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends an interview with Reuters, in Brussels, Belgium April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Türkiye, Israel Have Begun Talks to Avoid Clashes in Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends an interview with Reuters, in Brussels, Belgium April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends an interview with Reuters, in Brussels, Belgium April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Turkish and Israeli officials began talks on Wednesday aimed at preventing unwanted incidents in Syria, where militaries of the two regional powers are active, Turkish ministry sources said on Thursday. 

The sources said the technical talks, in Azerbaijan, marked the beginning of efforts to set up a channel to avoid potential clashes or misunderstandings over military operations in the region. 

"Efforts will continue to establish this mechanism," one of the sources said, without providing further details on the scope or timeline of the talks. 

The initiative comes a week after Israel stepped up airstrikes on Syria, which it described as a warning to the newly formed government in Damascus. It has also accused Türkiye of attempting to turn Syria into a Turkish protectorate. 

Reuters reported last week that Turkish military teams had inspected at least three air bases in Syria where they could deploy forces as part of a planned joint defense pact with Damascus - before Israel hit the sites with airstrikes. 

Türkiye and Israel - which have traded diplomatic barbs since Israel's attacks began on Gaza in 2023 - each said last week they did not seek confrontation in Syria, which both border. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Wednesday that technical talks were taking place, emphasizing that such mechanisms were necessary to prevent misunderstandings between the two regional powers' forces. 

The talks were similar to deconfliction mechanisms Türkiye has with the US and Russia, he said on broadcaster CNN Turk.