The Guardian: Hezbollah’s warning to Cyprus terrifies European diplomats News

There seems to be tension and fear in Cyprus Of warnings Hizb allah It may be drawn into the conflict if it allows Israel to use its military bases to launch a strike For Lebanonwas not limited to Cypriot officials.

A report published by the British newspaper The Guardian revealed that Western diplomats working in Cyprus expressed their horror at the specter of Cyprus being drawn into the raging conflict in the Middle East, if a comprehensive war broke out between Lebanon and Israel.

The newspaper quoted one of the European Union envoys working in Nicosia as saying that “Hezbollah has a history of acting on its threats,” a comment that indicates that the European official takes Hezbollah’s threat seriously.

The European official – whose name was not mentioned by the newspaper – explained that “Hezbollah knows that Cyprus does not have the military capacity to respond, and therefore it is an easy target.”

warning

He was the Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan NasrallahHe said in a speech the day before yesterday, Wednesday, that Cyprus might become a target for the party if it allowed Israel to use its military facilities to attack Lebanon.

Nasrallah directed the warning to the government of Cyprus based on what he said was information received by the party indicating that Israel – which annually conducts maneuvers on this small island located in the Mediterranean Sea, a member of the European Union and geographically close to Lebanon and Israel – may use Cypriot airports and bases to attack Lebanon, in the event of targeting… Hezbollah to Israeli airports.

He said, “We have information that the enemy (Israel) is conducting maneuvers in Cypriot areas and airports, and it believes that if its airports are targeted, it will use Cypriot airports and facilities.”

Nasrallah went on to warn, “Therefore, the Cypriot government must know that if Cypriot airports and bases are opened for war on Lebanon, we will deal with Cyprus as if it were part of the war.”

“Unpalatable” statement

Cyprus – which is only 40 minutes away by plane from Tel Aviv – was surprised by Nasrallah’s statements, and its response was reserved, as Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said that “the Republic of Cyprus is not involved in the conflict in any way,” and described Nasrallah’s statements as “unpalatable.”

Christodoulides stressed that his country does not participate in any way in the war waged by Israel against Gaza And southern Lebanon, and stressed that “Cyprus is part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

as entered the European Union On the line, a spokesman said: “Any threat to our member states is a threat to the European Union.”

Officials in Nicosia explained that they did not want the matter to develop further.

Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Litimpiotis said that his country “is relied upon to achieve stability and is an appreciated regional center for humanitarian operations, based on its excellent relations with all countries of the region.”

Military bases file

But this also comes against the backdrop of improved relations with Israel, and the recent use of British bases in Cyprus in military operations in Syria and Yemen.

The Israeli Air Force is also known to conduct maneuvers in Cyprus’ airspace, and in the past few years the two countries have participated in military exercises.

Cypriots in the divided capital, Nicosia, said: “They are still suffering from the consequences of the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974, after a short-lived coup at the behest of Greece, and therefore do not want to face other problems.”

“When I heard this news last night, yes, I felt worried,” said Filios Christodoulou (84 years old).

But Stella Patatini (62 years old) was not worried by the statements and said, “We have nothing to do with this war. On the contrary, we help with peace in the region and help the Palestinians, so I feel safe in Cyprus.”