Warnings issued, schools closed in Middle East over solar eclipse

Warnings have been issued in the Middle East over a solar eclipse set to be visible in the region and beyond on Tuesday.

An eclipse happens when the moon's orbit brings it between the Earth and the sun – either completely or partially blocking the star out.

Lebanon's health ministry urged people not to "look at the disc of the sun, directly or through glasses, during the partial eclipse period", given the danger to eyesight, according to news website Lebanon 24.

The Iraqi health ministry "warns citizens against looking directly at the sun during the eclipse period", according to a Monday statement from spokesperson Saif Al-Badr reported by news website Baghdad Today.

Sheikh Salman bin Jabor Al Thani, the founder of the Qatar Astronomical Center non-profit, posted advice on Twitter.

He shared a graphic which said "proper eye protection" includes specialised eclipse glasses, but not sunglasses.

The Palestinian Civil Defence, a body tasked with emergency service operations, also told people not to look at the eclipse, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

In Kuwait, schools were closed to protect students, the official news agency Kuna reported.

According to the education ministry, the move was made given the health ministry's advice to avoid direct exposure to sunlight in the two hours prior to the eclipse.

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Evening school classes have been suspended in Oman, the Oman Daily Observer newspaper reported.

Special Muslim eclipse, or "Kusoof", prayers will go ahead in countries including Palestine, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Anadolu reported.

The eclipse will be visible in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia.

US space agency NASA previously said on its website: "It is never safe to look directly at the sun's rays – even if the sun is partly obscured."