The Eclipse: Iraq - World shares a strange ceremony of science, superstition and awe
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IRAQI ASTRONOMERS were given unimpeded views of the last solar eclipse of the century yesterday as Western warplanes skirted their camp.
Despite United States and British rejections of an Iraqi appeal to halt their patrols over the no-fly zone, observers at the camp at Dair Matti, 30km from the country's second biggest city, Mosul, reported clear skies. A spokesman for the US and British forces said that Western aircraft patrolled northern Iraq as usual.
Muslims in Iraq and Iran performed the namaz-e ayat, a special prayer offered at times of extraordinary natural phenomena to celebrate God's glory and power - although many Iraqis obeyed the Ministry of Health's warning that they should stay at home to avoid the dangers of looking at the Sun.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments