Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Feb. 4

Middle East USA World

BAGHDAD — The Chinese government has donated 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Iraq, the Chinese embassy in Baghdad said on Thursday.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Chinese embassy said that the friendly step by the Chinese government came to “help Iraq overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible.” (Iraq-China-Vaccine)

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TEHRAN — Iran on Thursday received the first batch of Russia-made COVID-19 vaccine “Sputnik V,” official IRNA news agency reported.

The second cargo of “Sputnik V” will arrive in Iran in two weeks and the third will be delivered to Iran by Feb. 28, said Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali. (Iran-COVID19-Vaccine)

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ADEN — At least 10 members of the Houthi militia were killed in an ambush set up by the pro-government forces in Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday, a government official told Xinhua.

The local government source said on condition of anonymity that “the joint pro-government soldiers ambushed a group of Houthi fighters while they were attempting to advance into military sites in Hodeidah’s district of Tuhyata.” (Yemen-Houthis-Ambush)

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JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he was postponing his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain due to Israel’s COVID-19 lockdown.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu very much appreciates the invitations of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the historic peace that has been established between our countries,” according to a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office. (Israel-UAE-Bahrain)