Cyprus anxiously awaits instruction as other countries have been directed to activate their equivalent ‘Estia’ plan to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon.
According to Cyprus Mail, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis confirmed that no requests to activate the ‘Estia’ plan had been given to the island nation.
The ‘Estia’ plan is Cyprus’ existing strategic protocol in the event of mass evacuation of European Union and third country nationals from neighbouring countries.
Cyprus’ deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou, added that the government is “ready,” and their facilities are “on standby” in accordance with the ‘Estia’ plan.
“If help is needed, we will provide it. We have the know-how and the infrastructure to do so,” Antoniou said.
Tensions have risen in the Middle East region after Israel promised to retaliate following the deaths of 12 people in a strike attributed to Hezbollah in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, July 27.
Israel also claimed on Wednesday it had killed high-ranking Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr during its bombing of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Tuesday.
Cyprus has also previously been targeted by Hezbollah, with the head of the Lebanon militant group Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatening to consider the island nation as a “part of the war” should it continue to allow Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises.
Source: Cyprus Mail.
