Saudi Arabia: Eid holidaymakers head to Madinah and Jeddah

October 4, 2014

Jeddah, Oct 4: Many citizens and residents are using the Eid holidays to spend time in Madinah and Jeddah.

Eid-holiday
Saudis have also gone to Dubai for the vacation, while expatriates have headed heading home to their loved ones.

In the downtown area of Balad in Jeddah, many bachelor expatriates were seen on Thursday taking taxis and Saudi Transport Company buses to their destinations.

However, sources said that many tour operators had canceled trips to Madinah because there was little accommodation available and a shortage of buses because of the Haj. Dhul Hijjah 1 to 10 are considered one of the peak holiday periods in the Kingdom.

Most expatriates prefer to stay close to the Prophet's Mosque on Qurban Road where furnished apartments and other informal operators charge between SR600 and SR700 for a room accommodating a family of four. This has been a 100 percent hike from SR300 before the holidays.

“A few weeks ago I rented two rooms for SR350 for a relative from Riyadh, but now I'm paying SR750,” said Rashid Puli, a social worker and long-term resident of Madinah.

Opposite the Prophet's Mosque in Abizar Street, owners of furnished apartments have also hiked their prices by 100 percent and are charging SR750 for a single room.

Many Asian expatriates who have been running accommodation businesses in the Sultana area will see their buildings demolished to make way for the expansion of the Prophet's Mosque.

Meanwhile, those heading to Jeddah can expect to find some entertainment and relaxation at the corniche.

The municipality has also made elaborate arrangements for Eid prayers at 247 musallahs and mosques in various locations in the city including the waterfront area. It has also cleaned up parks and other public areas for Eid.

“Eid is the only occasion that I can step out with my siblings and enjoy the atmosphere at a musallah,” said Reem Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi student.

“I really enjoy attending Eid prayers at these areas with my family,” said Nashra Rania, who is from India.

Noormian, a Bangladeshi expatriate, told Arab News that he would be celebrating by sacrificing, skinning and cleaning a sheep.

Mohammed Al-Boqmi, spokesperson of Jeddah Municipality, said that 6,000 workers would be deployed to clean public areas.

There would be Eid prayers at three mosques at the corniche. Fatima Zahra Mosque in North Obhur and Al-Anani mosque at the corniche are popular for Eid prayers.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance in Jeddah has said that Eid sermons would be delivered at all the selected mosques and musallahs in the city. Talal Al-Aqeel, director of the ministry in Jeddah, said there would be Eid prayers at 42 musallahs.

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News Network
September 25,2024

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Hezbollah has launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv for the first time, triggering sirens in the city and elsewhere including Netanya, the Lebanese resistance group says. 

Warning sirens sounded in Israel’s economic capital Tel Aviv as a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defense systems after it was detected crossing from Lebanon, the Israeli military said.

There were no reports of damage or casualties and the military said there was no change to civil defense instructions for central Israel.

The Israeli military said that for the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area. "It is the first time ever a Hezbollah missile reached Tel Aviv area."

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip following a surprise operation by Hamas.

Earlier, Hezbollah targeted the Israeli Ilaniya military base at the northern side of the occupied territories with a salvo of Fadi-1 rockets. 

The base is reportedly affiliated with the 146th Reserve Division of the Israeli military, which is part of the Northern Command.

The group announced in a brief statement that the operation was carried out in defense of Lebanon and its people. 

Hezbollah also said it targeted a military base near Safad twice with salvos of rockets.

The group stated that it targeted “the Dado base near Safad – the headquarters of the Israeli military’s Northern Command – with a total of 90 rockets in defense of Lebanon and its people.”

Hezbollah said in a separate statement that it unleashed a squadron of attack drones on the headquarters of the Israeli army’s Special Naval Task Force at the Alit Base.

The group said the attack on the Alit base, south of the major port city of Haifa, targeted “the locations of [Israeli] officers and soldiers” and achieved direct hits.

The Lebanese resistance movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its Gaza war, which has so far killed at least 41,467 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Hezbollah officials have repeatedly said they do not want a war with Israel while stressing that they are prepared in case it occurs.

Two Israeli wars waged against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts.

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News Network
October 1,2024

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The Israeli regime has conducted a series of deadly airstrikes on the Syrian capital of Damascus, with Syrian media reporting three rounds of strikes in the capital area in one night.

An Israeli aircraft launched several missiles from the occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, targeting locations southwest of Damascus.

Syrian air defenses successfully intercepted many of these missiles, according to the Syrian state media.

According to the Syrian military, the Israeli aggression led to the martyrdom of three civilians, the injury of nine others, and significant damage to private property.

The Al Mayadeen news outlet reports that local journalist Safaa Ahmad was among those killed in the attack, which hit the Mezzeh neighborhood in the Syrian capital. Rescue crews are dealing with fires on the ground.

Syrian television said one of its anchors was killed in the Israeli strike on Damascus on Tuesday.

State television said in a statement that it "mourns anchor Safaa Ahmad who was martyred in the Israeli aggression on the capital Damascus."

The official SANA news agency earlier said "air defense systems are intercepting hostile targets for the third time tonight in the Damascus area," using a phrase that usually refers to Israeli aggression.

Subsequently, another wave of attacks was aimed at the suburbs of Damascus which was intercepted by air defenses.

Syria has consistently called on the UN Security Council to take action against these assaults, which it views as clear violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime rarely comments on its attacks on Syrian territories, which many see as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s phenomenal success in confronting and decimating terrorism.

Damascus has time and again called on the UN Security Council to put an end to the regime’s attacks that violate Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Israeli attacks on Syria come amid the regime’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 41,600 people, mostly women and children, over the past year.

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News Network
October 2,2024

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a travel advisory for Indian citizens in light of the escalating tensions in the Middle East, specifically advising against non-essential travel to Iran.

"We are closely monitoring the recent escalation in the security situation in the region. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. Those currently residing in Iran are requested to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

For those already residing in the country, the MEA advised vigilance and recommended staying in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran for any assistance. The situation continues to be under observation as tensions in the region unfold.

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