Cyprus claims it is not involved in Lebanon Israel conflict

Responding to threats made by Lebanon’s Hezbollah that Cyprus could be dragged into tensions between Lebanon and Israel, Cyprus reacted incredulously to the warning, stating that they want no involvement in the conflict, reports Reuters on June 20th. 

During a televised address on the 19th of June, Hezbollah chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel amid their spiralling tensions and simultaneously accused Cyprus of being an ally to their foe. 

“The Cypriot government must be warned that opening Cypriot airports and bases for the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon means that the Cypriot government has become part of the war, and the resistance (Hezbollah) will deal with it as part of the war,” Nasrallah stated. 

READ: Lebanon: Hezbollah chief threatens “nowhere safe” for Israel 

Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides was caught off guard, as he described Nasrallah’s comments as “not pleasant”. “The Republic of Cyprus is in no way involved in the war conflict,” responded Christodoulides. 

As Cyprus is a member of the European Union that lies closest to the Middle East, The EU weighed in showing their support: “Any threats against our member state are threats against the EU,” a spokesperson said. 

Another supporter of Cyprus chimed in, key ally and NATO member Greece showed its solidarity saying that Cyprus and its people had its unwavering support. “The threat of use of violence is a flagrant violation of the U.N Charter” it posted to X. 

Fearing unnecessary escalation, Lebanon’s government has tried to contain any possible fallout from Nasrallah’s comments.   

READ: Tensions rise in Lebanon over Hezbollah ammo truck shootings 

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati contacted Christodoulides on the 20th of July to thank him for his measured diplomatic response, referring to Christodoulides as a “dear friend”, a Cypriot source said.

Foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib also spoke to his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos to highlight Lebanon’s “continued reliance” on the role Cyprus has played in regional stability, according to a statement by Bou Habib’s office.

A Lebanese diplomatic source told Reuters that the two had spoken “to clarify matters” but did not elaborate on how Lebanese officials had specifically addressed Nasrallah’s threats.

Reuters.