Israeli health care workers administer coronavirus tests at a drive-through facility in Lod on Jan. 18, 2021.
Israelâs COVID-19 transmission rateâalso known as the reproduction or R-numberâhas fallen below one for the first time since October, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
The reports cited Israelâs Military Intelligence Directorate as saying that the reproduction rate now stands at 0.99. An R-number under one means that statistically, each infected individual is passing on the virus to less than one other person.
Israel is currently in the midst of its third nation-wide lockdown due to the pandemic. Officials have previously said that lockdown restrictions can be eased when the transmission rate reaches 0.8.
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The Syrian Army launched a new combing operation against ISIS cells in the Hama-Aleppo-Raqqa triangle. The operation is supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces. As of now, clashes between the army and ISIS have resulted in the killing of at least 7 terrorists.
In the second half of 2020, ISIS significantly increased its activity in the central desert. ISIS cells reportedly buy supplies, including weapons, from U.S.-backed fighters based in the area of al-Tanf, as well as exploit the lack of control on the Syrian-Iraqi border to receive support from a network of ISIS cells in Iraq.
Meanwhile, sources loyal to Turkish-backed militants claim that the Syrian Army has started mobilizing its forces in the southern part of Greater Idlib. The army has allegedly deployed new reinforcements to the Jurin camp and the town of Shat’ha. Militants claim that these developments are a part of the preparation for an offensive operation on the al-Ghab Plains.
Albany s Syrians put hope in Biden presidency and his promise
Families await end to Trump s Muslim ban when president-elect takes office
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1of3Buy PhotoIbrahim Alkahraman, left, stands with his son Khalil in their home on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
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Days into his presidency, President Donald Trump enacted a travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries. The impact of Trump s executive order, which has since expanded to a total of 13 countries, has been drastic, with visa issuances dropping as much as 79 percent for certain countries. Trump also slashed refugee intake: whereas 6,557 Syrians were resettled in the U.S. in fiscal year 2017, for example, just 481 were resettled in fiscal year 2020.