Cyprus on Thursday said it stands ready to assist with the evacuation of foreign civilians from Lebanon, in the event of an escalation in the brewing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia.
“We are ready to help if necessary,” government spokesman Giannis Antoniou told dpa on Thursday.
The embassies of numerous European Union member states have already contacted the Cypriot government to discuss details of possible evacuations, Antoniou said.
Cyprus – the EU member state located nearest the Middle East – has repeatedly served as a hub for aid and evacuation operations during crises in the region.
The flight time from Lebanon to Cyprus is around 35 minutes.
Ferries could also be used to take people wishing to leave the country to the Cypriot ports of Limassol or Larnaca. People have been brought to safety on these routes several times in recent months.
The evacuation plan, known as Operation Hestia, reportedly provides for airplanes from EU states and third countries to pick up their own citizens and family members from Lebanon or Israel and bring them to Larnaca or Paphos.
The plan also sets out in detail where the evacuees would be temporarily housed until they can fly on to their home countries.
Fears have recently increased that a major war could break out in the region after the targeted killings of the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and of a top Hezbollah commander last week, prompting Iran and its allies to threaten retaliation against Israel.
