A deadly sandstorm has engulfed part of the Middle East - killing at least eight people including two children and causing thousands to suffer breathing problems. Large parts of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Cyprus were shrouded in a thick cloud of dust from the storm that began sweeping into the region on Monday. In Syria today, government warplanes and helicopters carried out fewer strikes as a result, but at least six people died across the country from respiratory failure, a monitor said. Syria's state-run news agency SANA said three people in the central Hama province died from the sandstorm and there were more than 3,500 cases of people with breathing difficulties across several provinces.Large parts of Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Cyprus were shrouded in a thick cloud of dust from the sandstormEight people were killed, including six in Syria, and hundreds have been hospitalised for respiratory problemsIn Syria, government warplanes and helicopters carried out fewer strikes as a result on the reduced visibility
The thick cloud also enveloped parts of the eastern Mediterranean island of _, where residents were told to limit their time outdoors.