Cyprus on Standby for Possible Evacuation Amid Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Cyprus is prepared to assist in evacuating civilians from the Middle East if tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate. The island has an emergency response mechanism in place, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. Cyprus previously acted as a safety bridge for evacuations in 2006 and 2022.

Cyprus is on high alert to help with evacuations from the Middle East should the Israel-Hezbollah standoff intensify, the country's foreign minister said Monday. Lebanon is anticipating retaliation from Israel following a rocket attack that killed 12 children and teens in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday. Israel and the United States attribute the attack to the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has denied involvement.

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos assured that a robust emergency response mechanism has been in place since last October, prepared for any needed evacuation. 'We hope it won't be necessary, but Cyprus stands ready to serve as a vital evacuation hub,' Kombos stated. The island previously aided in evacuations from Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict and last year facilitated the evacuation of Britons and dual citizens from Sudan.

Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has a contentious history with Israel, exacerbated by Hamas' October attack on southern Israel, triggering the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies.)