Egypt Reports Surge in Virus Cases

Egyptian women wearing protective face masks wait to ride a bus in a station, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cairo, Egypt September 15, 2020. REUTERS
Egyptian women wearing protective face masks wait to ride a bus in a station, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cairo, Egypt September 15, 2020. REUTERS
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Egypt Reports Surge in Virus Cases

Egyptian women wearing protective face masks wait to ride a bus in a station, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cairo, Egypt September 15, 2020. REUTERS
Egyptian women wearing protective face masks wait to ride a bus in a station, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cairo, Egypt September 15, 2020. REUTERS

Egypt reported 149 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 103,466 since the outbreak first hit the country in mid-February, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population said.

The Ministry also reported 10 new deaths, raising the total number of fatalities caused by the virus to 5,956.

The country reported 97,142 recoveries after 288 patients were discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours.

Also, the Head of the Christian Evangelical community in Egypt, Pastor Andre Zaki, has tested positive for the COVID-19, a statement released by the community said late on Friday.

"The medical tests confirmed his infection with the coronavirus and he is now under home isolation," the statement noted.

"We ask God for his recovery and safety, and the same for his family, and all coronavirus patients in Egypt and the World," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Cairo International Airport received 107 international, domestic, and private flights that transported around 12,403 passengers. The Airport’s administration abided by necessary precautionary measures to fight the pandemic.

EgyptAir will operate 39 flights on Sunday to serve nearly 4,500 passengers while adhering to the recommended preventative measures at the airport as well as onboard.



US Launches Airstrikes by Fighter Jets and Ships on Yemen’s Iran-Backed Houthis

 Smoke rises from the site of strikes in Sanaa, Yemen October 4, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises from the site of strikes in Sanaa, Yemen October 4, 2024. (Reuters)
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US Launches Airstrikes by Fighter Jets and Ships on Yemen’s Iran-Backed Houthis

 Smoke rises from the site of strikes in Sanaa, Yemen October 4, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises from the site of strikes in Sanaa, Yemen October 4, 2024. (Reuters)

The US military struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Iranian-backed militias, US officials confirmed.

Military aircraft and warships bombed Houthi strongholds at roughly five locations, according to the officials.

Houthi media said seven strikes hit the airport in Hodeidah, a major port city, and the Katheib area, which has a Houthi-controlled military base. Four more strikes hit the Seiyana area in Sanaa, the capital, and two strikes hit the Dhamar province. The Houthi media office also reported three air raids in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa.

The strikes come just days after the Houthis threatened “escalating military operations” targeting Israel after they apparently shot down a US military drone flying over Yemen. And just last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack targeting American warships.

The militias fired more than a half dozen ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles and two drones at three US ships that were traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but all were intercepted by the Navy destroyers, according to several US officials.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet publicly released.

Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza started last October. They have seized one vessel and sunk two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors.

Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.

The Houthis have maintained that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.