Athens
Cyprus firmly rejected threats from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who warned the EU island nation against cooperating with the Israeli military. Nasrallah stated that Cyprus would ‘become part of the war’ if it made its airports and military bases available to Israel.
The Cypriot government dismissed Nasrallah’s claims as unfounded. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letybiotis said on the Cypriot broadcaster RIK, ‘The insinuations made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah do not correspond to reality. Nasrallah’s statements are unpleasant, and we will take all necessary steps at the diplomatic level.’
Reports have indicated that Israeli special units have traveled to Cyprus to practice counter-terrorism tactics with Cypriot forces in recent years. The situation between Lebanon and Israel has worsened, with increasing concerns that daily cross-border clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah could escalate further.
Israel’s military recently approved plans for an offensive in Lebanon, raising fears of a broader conflict. On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced that at least three of its members were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.
