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.



Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire.

In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces.

Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation.

The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces.

The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting.