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Libya Increases Random Testing to Combat COVID-19

Libyans wearing protective face masks queue in front of a bank in the center of the capital Tripoli amid the coronavirus pandemic. (File photo: AFP)
Libyans wearing protective face masks queue in front of a bank in the center of the capital Tripoli amid the coronavirus pandemic. (File photo: AFP)
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Libya Increases Random Testing to Combat COVID-19

Libyans wearing protective face masks queue in front of a bank in the center of the capital Tripoli amid the coronavirus pandemic. (File photo: AFP)
Libyans wearing protective face masks queue in front of a bank in the center of the capital Tripoli amid the coronavirus pandemic. (File photo: AFP)

Libyan medical authorities have increased random COVID-19 testing and sample collection, hoping it will help curb the spread of the virus, mainly in the capital which has the highest rate of infections.

The number of coronavirus cases is increasing rapidly in Libya, compared to the number of tests conducted daily, at a time when dozens of citizens refuse to declare their positive results, according to medical sources.

The National Center for Disease Control announced Wednesday that 13 of its laboratories had received 2,815 testing samples from over 33 cities and municipalities around the country.

It indicated that 529 samples came back positive, 270 of which are located in Tripoli.

The country’s total number of coronavirus reached 75,465, including 28,285 active cases, while 46,127 recovered and 1,053 died, announced the Center.

It explained that laboratories received fewer numbers of testing samples, resulting in the drop of cases during the past 24 hours, pointing out that occasional power outages in some cities also affect the number of samples tested.

The Center posted a video showing Tripoli municipality conducting random testing and taking swabs from citizens, as part of its campaign to detect virus outbreak.

Head of campaign, Atallah Soleiman Gharibeh, said in a press statement that the campaign is working all the time to spread awareness among citizens on the need to adhere to the precautions.

Meanwhile, Zliten Medical Center, to the west of Libya, stated Tuesday that it had opened another isolation center after the first one became full, as the cases continue to rise in the area.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman in Libya, Ahmad Saad, announced the arrival of a shipment of personal protective equipment, medicines for chronic diseases, and an oxygen ventilator to al-Qubbah Hospital, in eastern Libya.

The Benghazi Medical Center launched a campaign for seasonal influenza vaccination targeting the most vulnerable groups, along with medical teams and assisting teams who are in direct contact with patients, namely those infected with COVID-19.

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Revenge Attacks in Rural Damascus Raise Human Rights Concerns

Syrian security forces in Umayyad Square, Damascus, on January 8. (AFP)
Syrian security forces in Umayyad Square, Damascus, on January 8. (AFP)
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Revenge Attacks in Rural Damascus Raise Human Rights Concerns

Syrian security forces in Umayyad Square, Damascus, on January 8. (AFP)
Syrian security forces in Umayyad Square, Damascus, on January 8. (AFP)

Residents of Dummar, a suburb west of Damascus, publicly celebrated the execution of former local official Mazen Knaineh on Friday, raising alarm among civil society and human rights activists.

They called for justice and warned against lawless acts of revenge by armed groups.

Local sources said Knaineh had ties to Syrian security forces under former President Bashar al-Assad, particularly Branch 215, accused of killing detainees. Opposition figures claim he aided government raids on Dummar and Hameh in 2016.

The execution was reportedly carried out by armed locals who recently joined the new administration’s security forces. Residents had demanded his death, blaming him for the loss of many family members.

The incident has fueled calls to stop revenge killings and ensure justice is pursued legally in Syria’s fragile post-conflict period.

Civil society activists have raised concerns over the growing trend of extrajudicial executions in Syria, warning that such acts undermine the hopes of building a “new state” grounded in law and justice.

Lawyer and civil rights activist Rahada Abdosh expressed strong opposition to field executions, stating they are not a path to healing.

“Revenge will only bring more destruction to the country,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The abuse of corpses and the execution of individuals in front of children and their families is particularly troubling.”

Abdosh emphasized the need for specialized courts to prosecute those responsible for violence and bloodshed.

“We must hold everyone accountable for the harm they’ve caused,” she added.

Ahe warned that allowing groups to take action based on public complaints or accusations of crimes could repeat the abuses of the Assad regime, which carried out executions without trials.

She said this could “legitimize” the regime’s actions and noted that some accusations might be driven by personal revenge or unverified claims, risking more innocent victims.

Abdosh called on the current government to stop individual executions and abuses, urging the creation of a field court for fair trials. She stressed that transitional justice must include both acknowledging the crimes and offering compensation.

“Anything outside the law is a crime, and could be considered a war crime,” she added, highlighting that this could harm the government’s efforts to rebuild the country.

Sources close to Damascus military operations told Asharq Al-Awsat that there is increasing public pressure on the new administration to quickly deliver justice.

They noted that many families are grieving and impatient, while the government continues work on restoring security, disarming groups, and rebuilding, which will take time.

Civil activist Salma Al-Sayyad expressed her empathy for the grieving families in Dummar but warned that emotional reactions like vigilante justice could harm innocent people and fuel revenge.

“While I understand their pain and their desire for justice, I fear this could lead to more injustice,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Sayyad called for a future Syria based on the rule of law, where justice is carried out through fair trials, clear evidence, and a judge.

“We need an independent judicial system,” she emphasized.

In related developments, Syria’s military operations launched a large security campaign in rural Damascus, targeting individuals connected to the ousted regime.

This has led to clashes in areas like Qudsayya, where former regime officers and loyalist fighters are concentrated.