The Paradox of COVID-19: 'Epidemic Truce' Initiated Across the Middle East

Ceasefire in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Israel, Palestine, Syria
India-Pakistan conflict also subsides... Indian military recruitment halted

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rages worldwide, military clashes in conflict zones around the world, including the Middle East, are decreasing, and ceasefires are being achieved one after another. Israel and Palestine, which have been engaged in long-term conflict since the Middle East wars, are also pursuing limited cooperation for COVID-19 prevention.

According to the Associated Press on the 13th (local time), the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, major conflict areas in the Middle East, and Israel have carried out limited cooperation since the spread of COVID-19. The Israeli government provided COVID-19 test kits and quarantine supplies to the Palestinian Authority. Since the founding of Israel in 1948, armed clashes between the two regions have continued, but the frequency has significantly decreased after the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, Israel recorded a cumulative total of 11,586 confirmed cases as of that day, surpassing the 10,000 mark. Earlier, COVID-19 spread widely in the Palestinian territories, mainly among pilgrims from Europe, and also spread significantly to geographically adjacent Israel.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

COVID-19 has also brought a ceasefire to Yemen, where war has continued for nearly five years since 2015. According to foreign media such as the BBC, on the 8th, Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni Houthi rebels decided to stop fighting and suspend all hostile acts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Earlier, in Syria, a ceasefire was implemented from the 6th of last month between government forces and rebels fighting in the northwestern Idlib province rebel stronghold due to the COVID-19 situation.

The ceasefires in major conflict areas in the Middle East are due to the severe spread of COVID-19 throughout the region. Since February, many confirmed cases have occurred centered on Iran, the country with the largest outbreak in the Middle East. Iran has reported 73,303 confirmed cases as of that day, with Israel (11,586), Saudi Arabia (4,934), the United Arab Emirates (4,521), and Qatar (3,231) continuing to see rising numbers.

The impact of the COVID-19 situation has reduced military training in most regions worldwide, and the frequency of conflicts between India and Pakistan is also decreasing. Until last month, more than 24 localized skirmishes occurred along the India-Pakistan border, but since this month, the border area has been quiet. The Indian military has suspended new recruitments and canceled most military training. The naval joint exercise scheduled for the 18th of last month with 41 countries was also canceled.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.