Cyprus ready to assist with Israel evacuations if needed
Cyprus is prepared to help evacuate civilians from the Middle East if tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalate, according to the country's foreign minister.
Following a rocket attack on Saturday that resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers in the Golan Heights, Lebanon is on high alert for a potential Israeli response. The strike has been attributed to Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran, though Hezbollah has denied involvement. Cypriot authorities have had an emergency evacuation plan in place since last October, as stated by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.
Kombos explained, "We have established the procedures for how this plan will operate if necessary."
While he expressed hope that such measures will not be required, Kombos assured that Cyprus stands ready to act as a safe conduit for civilians needing to leave conflict zones in the region.