Yiannis Ioannou
The recent escalation between Israel and Iran—marked by Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel Tuesday night—and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon have raised concerns for the Republic of Cyprus. While Nicosia remains on high alert for crisis management, officials have reassured the public that Cyprus faces no immediate threats.
The National Security Council (NSC) of Cyprus convened this morning shortly after 11:30 a.m., with the ESTIA emergency evacuation plan in full readiness. The Hellenic Republic is assisting with the evacuation of Cypriot citizens from Lebanon using military aircraft (C-130).
Meanwhile, marinas in Cyprus, such as Larnaca and Ayia Napa, have seen an increase in the arrival of sailboats carrying civilians evacuating Lebanon by sea, including personnel from foreign diplomatic missions. According to sources, these evacuations are being coordinated with Cypriot authorities.
Cyprus Faces No Direct Threat
Videos posted on social media on Tuesday night showing Iran's missile attack on Israel, visible from various points in Cyprus, understandably sparked concern. However, experts emphasize that there is no immediate risk to Cyprus for several reasons:
- The flight path, distance, and altitude of Iran’s ballistic missiles targeting Israel make it extremely unlikely for any to unintentionally strike Cyprus.
- Cyprus' defense systems are on 24-hour standby, equipped with radar to detect any flying objects.
- The rare 2019 incident, when a Syrian air defense missile (S-200) landed in Cyprus, involved a projectile with completely different characteristics from a ballistic missile, such as speed, flight altitude, and trajectory.
...marinas in Cyprus, such as Larnaca and Ayia Napa, have seen an increase in the arrival of sailboats carrying civilians evacuating Lebanon by sea...
Unlike surface-to-surface missiles, ballistic missiles are launched into suborbital space, exit the atmosphere, and re-enter it vertically to deliver their warheads upon impact. Israel’s air defense systems intercept these missiles during their re-entry, so the flashes seen from Cyprus likely resulted from debris falling after interceptions, not missiles themselves.
Potential Role in Evacuations
Cyprus could play a key role in evacuating European Union and third-country nationals from Lebanon if the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates further and Lebanon becomes more deeply involved in the war. Security measures at sensitive locations, including the Israeli embassy in Nicosia, have been heightened since last October. The government also remains on alert for potential refugee or irregular migrant flows from Lebanon to Cyprus.
Ambassador Kidnapping Rumors Debunked
Cyprus has also found itself at the center of a hybrid disinformation campaign, with false news spreading that Israeli Ambassador Oren Anolik had been kidnapped. The rumor reportedly started on Israeli platforms and spread by Iran- and Hezbollah-linked accounts on X (formerly Twitter), was quickly debunked. Ambassador Anolik himself took to social media to confirm his safety, putting an end to the false reports.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
