Lebanon Rocket Attacks, Coronavirus Claims New Victim in Saudi Arabia

Rocket Attacks hit Lebanon

Two rockets hit the Lebanese capital on Sunday, raising fears over a spillover of the Syrian conflict once again. The timing of the strikes, which occurred just hours after senior Hezbollah leaders admitted that Shia militia are engaged in armed conflict with Sunni rebels in Syria, gives some indication as to why the rockets hit Hezbollah territory. One missile hit the suburb of Shiyyah, while another caused devastation in the Mar Mikhael neighbourhood, a Christian area. At least five people were wounded, as Al Jazeera reports.

Being a Shia organization, Hezbollah is supporting Syrian government troops in the fighting against Sunni rebels. Syrian rebels have threatened Hezbollah with possible retaliation attacks for getting involved in the Syrian civil war. Lebanese security forces tracked the launching points of the two rockets to a spot near Aitat in the Mount Lebanon area. It is also reported that a third rocket was fired but failed to explode.

Coronavirus Death Toll rises in Saudi Arabia

Concerns are mounting over a spread of a new SARS-like coronavirus, which was first discovered by a doctor in Saudi Arabia in 2012. An 81-year-old woman was the 18th person to die in the kingdom following an infection with the virus. Saudi Arabia is currently the country with the largest number of confirmed infections, counting 30 in total.

Following an announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the virus is likely to be transmitted between humans, fears over a SARS-like scenario spread worldwide. Similarly to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which caused widespread health scares and claimed 800 peoples' lives, the new coronavirus affects the lungs in particular, and causes fever and breathing difficulties among other symptoms. For more information read The Guardian's new coronavirus Q&A here.