Cyprus says it’s again ready to help foreigners flee Lebanon in case of wider war
Island nation played role in evacuating foreigners during 2006 conflict; nearly 10 countries have inquired about its plan to serve as sanctuary
LARNACA, Cyprus — The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is on standby to assist in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals if conflict in the Middle East deepens, officials said on Thursday.
The European Union’s easternmost state, Cyprus has over the past several decades been a sanctuary for thousands escaping war in the volatile region.
Several reports have indicated that Iran and Hezbollah may attack Israel in the coming days or weeks following last week’s back-to-back assassinations of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut by an Israeli strike and Hamas terror group leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran has blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s death and has vowed to retaliate.
“We are ready, we have activated a specific plan, ESTIA, which has been tried and tested,” Cyprus’s deputy government spokesperson, Yiannis Antoniou, said.
“In the event that we are asked to assist other countries who may be moving their nationals from the crisis area back home, we are in a position to host them for a few days until they are repatriated,” he said.
Antoniou told Reuters close to 10 countries had made inquiries on the scheme, but that there had been no specific formal request. If a mass evacuation plan does transpire it would largely be by air, he said.
“We have the capacity, the infrastructure,” he said.
The coordination hub will be the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in the southern port town of Larnaca, near the island’s largest airport. It operates around the clock with its primary role to coordinate, control, and direct search and rescue operations.
Some tents had been erected in the compound on Thursday, with cots that would be used to process any arrivals, it was reported.
Cyprus played a crucial role as an evacuation hub for about 30,000 people who left Lebanon during a war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
“Historically we have very good relations with all our neighbors, so we try to utilize this special role we have and want Cyprus to be a pillar of safety and stability, and act as a bridge of cooperation and peace,” Antoniou said.
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.
So far, the skirmishes have resulted in 25 civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.
Hezbollah has named 401 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 70 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and dozens of civilians have been killed.
