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Libya Announces Mandatory COVID-19 Jabs for University Students

A side of the headquarters established for vaccination at Ra's Ajdir (National Center for Disease Control).
A side of the headquarters established for vaccination at Ra's Ajdir (National Center for Disease Control).
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Libya Announces Mandatory COVID-19 Jabs for University Students

A side of the headquarters established for vaccination at Ra's Ajdir (National Center for Disease Control).
A side of the headquarters established for vaccination at Ra's Ajdir (National Center for Disease Control).

The Libyan authorities announced that it is mandatory for all university students to receive the coronavirus vaccine before the commencement of the new scholar year next week.

This decision concurs with growing concerns of the hike in virus cases during the winter season.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Libya has so far hit 344,000, including 266,000 recoveries and 4,720 deaths, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed.

The data provided by the center showed a decline in coronavirus cases.

During his meeting with heads of universities and education authorities on Tuesday, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Libya's Government of National Unity, Omran Al-Qeeb stressed the vaccine will be “mandatory” to all students.

Those who don’t hold a vaccination certificate will have no access to any university or a higher education institution.

A medical source from the center told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that there are mounting concerns of a hike in the cases during the winter season.

However, he noted that the weekly report, number thirty nine, on the state of the epidemic revealed a progress compared to the past week.

The source attributed the progress to an increasing number of citizens who received their 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccine.

In the same context, the Ministry of Health held its second virtual meeting on Wednesday with its Egyptian counterpart.

NCDC and the Libyan Center for Biotechnology Research, in the presence of the Health Minister Ali Al-Zanati, signed on Wednesday, at the Ministry of Health in Tripoli, a joint cooperation agreement.

The agreement included exchanging scientific expertise, organizing seminars, scientific conferences and workshops, working on developing scientific and technical cadres in all fields, and conducting researches and studies, in addition to the formation of joint committees to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.