Middle East & North Africa

DUBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - Iran may face a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus spreads through the Middle East's worst-hit country, President Hassan Rouhani warned on Saturday.

"There are concerns that the whole country may enter a fifth wave if enough care is not taken in following health protocols. Today, reports are that just 69% of the people are observing the precautions," Rouhani said in remarks broadcast on state TV.

DUBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - Iran denied on Saturday U.S. accusations that Tehran supported attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and condemned U.S. airstrikes on Iranian-backed militants there, state media reported.

On Tuesday, the United States told the U.N. Security Council that it targeted Iran-backed militia in Syria and Iraq with airstrikes to deter the militants and Tehran from conducting or supporting further attacks on U.S. personnel or facilities.

TUNIS, July 3 (Reuters) - At least 43 migrants drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy, while another 84 were rescued, the Tunisian Red Crescent told Reuters on Saturday.

The boat had set off from Zuwara, on Libya's northwest coast, carrying migrants from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Bangladesh, the humanitarian organisation said.

02 July 2021; MEMO: The visit to Moscow of Algeria's Chief of Staff, General Said Chengriha, is being followed-up closely by European countries and Morocco to find out more about the arms deal that Algeria is expected to sign with Russia. They are keen to know if it will include Sukhoi 57 and Sukhoi 34 aircraft, and if Algeria will be Russia's gateway to the Sahel region.

03 July 2021; MEMO: Yamina MK Abir Kara has faced fierce criticism and calls for prosecution from the opposition over voting twice in the Knesset, Israeli media reported on Friday.

Kara was caught illegally voting twice in the Knesset on a bill limiting unemployment benefits on Thursday. This placed him at the centre of fierce criticism from the opposition.

03 July 2021; MEMO: The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported on Saturday that the Bushehr Nuclear Power plant had resumed activities after being shut down two weeks ago due to repairs.

03 July 2021; MEMO: The Iraqi Ministry of Defence announced on Friday thwarting an attack intended to target a military base at Baghdad International Airport, Anadolu Agency reported.

"Based on precise information, the Federal Police thwarted an attack attempt that would have targeted one of the military bases in the west of Baghdad with eight grad rockets," the Defence Ministry disclosed in a statement.

03 July 2021; MEMO: The Higher Administrative Committee of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, headed by acting Guide of the group Ibrahim Munir, has dissolved the administrative bureau in Turkey and postponed the elections slated for this month, Arabi21 reported on Saturday.

03 July 2021; MEMO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday that his country is present in Libya, Azerbaijan, Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean and will remain in these areas.

This came in a speech delivered by Erdogan on Friday, during his inspection of the tank track factory in the north-western Turkish state of Sakarya.

ALEPPO /Syria/, July 2. /TASS/: Russia and Turkey have exchanged, with Syria’s assistance, five Syrian soldiers for five members of illegal armed groups, the Russian defense ministry said on Friday.