Since the escalation with Iran, Cyprus has emerged as central logistical hub for Israel. Just hours after Israel’s strike on Iran, it was reported that Israeli airlines evacuated their aircraft to Cyprus, Greece, and other destinations as part of a preplanned contingency—reflecting the logistical coordination between Israel and Cyprus. In addition to Israel, several other countries, including the United States, Slovakia, and Portugal, are using Cypriot ports and airports to evacuate and repatriate their citizens. Even prior to this, Cyprus has played a key role at various critical points during the war in supporting Israel’s military effort. However, its current significance to Israel appears unprecedented.
Cyprus’s assistance to Israel, however, comes at a cost, as it increases the threat of terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets on the island. This was evidenced by the June 21 arrest in Cyprus of a British national of Azerbaijani origin, suspected of ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and of planning an attack against Israelis. The announcement of evacuation flights for Israelis from destinations beyond Larnaca (and Athens) appears intended to avoid an increase in the number of Israelis staying on the island. Additionally, there is a threat to the two British bases in Cyprus. Although these areas are outside Cypriot sovereignty, an attack on them could have repercussions beyond the bases’ perimeters. This is despite Britain’s denial that its bases were used in Israel’s strike on Iran. In this context, it is worth recalling that in June 2024, Hezbollah threatened to strike Cyprus because of its support for Israel. While Hezbollah has since been significantly weakened, the incident illustrates the potential risks Cyprus faces from the Israel–Iran crisis.
Cyprus’s unease over the consequences of the Israeli–Iranian conflict is evident in the intense diplomatic activity of its foreign minister and president. Notably, it has been reported that the Cypriot president is relaying messages from Iran to Israel. Alongside its mediation efforts, Cyprus is working to frame its air support for Israel and other countries as humanitarian aid rather than military assistance. For example, the Cypriot Foreign Ministry stated that the support for Israel is part of the ESTIA program for evacuating civilians from conflict zones—a program activated in 2024 to evacuate citizens from Lebanon—and that the military aircraft landing in Cyprus were solely for civilian evacuations. While other mediators are involved in the current crisis, Israel should remain attuned to Cyprus and its needs, given the island’s sensitive position and its vital and extensive logistical support for Israel.
Since the escalation with Iran, Cyprus has emerged as central logistical hub for Israel. Just hours after Israel’s strike on Iran, it was reported that Israeli airlines evacuated their aircraft to Cyprus, Greece, and other destinations as part of a preplanned contingency—reflecting the logistical coordination between Israel and Cyprus. In addition to Israel, several other countries, including the United States, Slovakia, and Portugal, are using Cypriot ports and airports to evacuate and repatriate their citizens. Even prior to this, Cyprus has played a key role at various critical points during the war in supporting Israel’s military effort. However, its current significance to Israel appears unprecedented.
Cyprus’s assistance to Israel, however, comes at a cost, as it increases the threat of terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets on the island. This was evidenced by the June 21 arrest in Cyprus of a British national of Azerbaijani origin, suspected of ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and of planning an attack against Israelis. The announcement of evacuation flights for Israelis from destinations beyond Larnaca (and Athens) appears intended to avoid an increase in the number of Israelis staying on the island. Additionally, there is a threat to the two British bases in Cyprus. Although these areas are outside Cypriot sovereignty, an attack on them could have repercussions beyond the bases’ perimeters. This is despite Britain’s denial that its bases were used in Israel’s strike on Iran. In this context, it is worth recalling that in June 2024, Hezbollah threatened to strike Cyprus because of its support for Israel. While Hezbollah has since been significantly weakened, the incident illustrates the potential risks Cyprus faces from the Israel–Iran crisis.
Cyprus’s unease over the consequences of the Israeli–Iranian conflict is evident in the intense diplomatic activity of its foreign minister and president. Notably, it has been reported that the Cypriot president is relaying messages from Iran to Israel. Alongside its mediation efforts, Cyprus is working to frame its air support for Israel and other countries as humanitarian aid rather than military assistance. For example, the Cypriot Foreign Ministry stated that the support for Israel is part of the ESTIA program for evacuating civilians from conflict zones—a program activated in 2024 to evacuate citizens from Lebanon—and that the military aircraft landing in Cyprus were solely for civilian evacuations. While other mediators are involved in the current crisis, Israel should remain attuned to Cyprus and its needs, given the island’s sensitive position and its vital and extensive logistical support for Israel.