Cyprus said on Thursday it stands ready to assist in the evacuation of foreign citizens from Lebanon should the looming conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia escalate.
“We are ready to help if needed,” government spokesman Giannis Antoniou told dpa on Thursday.
The embassies of several European Union member states have already contacted the Cypriot government to discuss details of possible evacuations, Antoniou said.
Cyprus, the EU member state closest to the Middle East, has repeatedly served as a hub for relief and evacuation operations during crises in the region.
The flight time from Lebanon to Cyprus is approximately 35 minutes.
Ferries can also be used to take people who want to leave the country to the Cypriot ports of Limassol or Larnaca. People have been taken to safety via these routes several times in recent months.
The evacuation plan, known as Operation Hestia, reportedly involves EU member states and third countries collecting their own citizens and family members from Lebanon or Israel and taking them to Larnaca or Paphos.
The plan also details where the evacuees will be temporarily housed until they can fly back to their home country.
Fears that a major war could break out in the region have grown recently following the targeted killing of the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and a senior Hezbollah commander last week, prompting Iran and its allies to threaten retaliation against Israel.
