Libya Bans Eid al-Adha Prayer in Mosques, Squares


A vaccination campaign in the Libyan city of Khoms (National Center for Disease Control)
A vaccination campaign in the Libyan city of Khoms (National Center for Disease Control)
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Libya Bans Eid al-Adha Prayer in Mosques, Squares


A vaccination campaign in the Libyan city of Khoms (National Center for Disease Control)
A vaccination campaign in the Libyan city of Khoms (National Center for Disease Control)

Several Libyan municipalities have banned performing Eid Al-Adha prayer in squares and mosques in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tally of infections and deaths has recently witnessed a remarkable increase. The National Center for Disease Control announced 3,325 confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 225,000.

A total of 184,000 patients have recovered, while 3,300 have died, it said.

In its emergency meeting, the municipal council of Zuwara decided to ban the prayers of Eid al-Adha and ordered the closure of mosques, cafes, restaurants, halls, and gyms for 10 days.

Ahmed Al-Arabi, who is in charge of health matters at Sabratah Municipal Council, urged citizens to abide by the precautionary measures to avoid infection.

A total of 126 random swaps showed 19 positive results, an indication of the alarming situation, which calls for caution.

During televised statements, Arabi said that the quarantine center in Sabratah is running low on beds.

He held the health ministry responsible for shortages of ventilators, anesthetics and staff.

Badreddine al-Najar, director of the National Centre for Disease Control, didn’t deny that the situation is dangerous.

Coronavirus cases are increasing amid the country's inability to handle the situation due to shortages in medicine, equipment and medical staff, he added.

Najar noted that Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, revealed during his visit to the quarantine centers that the government transferred 100 million dinars to the health ministry to help it fight the pandemic.

However, the slow payment has hindered the process.



Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
TT

Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin

Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

As the strikes were under way, Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a "widespread attack" on Hezbollah targets across the city.

The Israeli military said it was currently striking Hezbollah in the Beirut area saying: "You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel Forces will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X including a map of the targeted areas.

The army in a statement minutes later said it "is currently conducting strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Beirut" but did not provide more details.