A leading terror organisation’s chief has boasted about developing “new weapons” and threatened to establish “front lines” of a potential conflict with Cyprus.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also hinted at further conflict with Israel after releasing footage showing drones scouting targets.
Speaking during a televised speech yesterday, Nasrallah warned the EU member could face consequences if Nicosia permits Israel to launch military operations from its territory.
He also accused Israel of “conducting manoeuvres in preparation for the Lebanon war” in Cyprus.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks at a rally September 22, 2006 in Beirut, Lebanon
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However, Nasrallah did not disclose any sources behind the allegation.
Nasrallah said: “Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot Government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war.”
The militant leader also suggested Hezbollah would fight with “no rules” and “no ceilings” if a broader regional conflict were to erupt.
He added: “We now have new weapons but I won't say what they are.”
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President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus attends the plenary session during the Summit on peace in Ukraine,
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Cyprus has traditionally allowed Israel to use its airspace for air drills but never during an active conflict.
The Mediterranean island nation contains a number of UK bases which allegedly launched attacks against Houthi militants in Yemen.
Pro-Palestine protesters in Cyprus were already spotted demonstrating outside a Royal Air Force base near the coastal city of Limassol.
Cyprus reportedly welcomed thousands of Israelis following Hamas' October 7 attack.
However, Nicosia remains neutral on the Israel-Palestine conflict and voted for Palestine to join the United Nations.
Peace protesters wave Palestinian flags in front of the gates of the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base, a British overseas territory near the Cypriot coastal city of Limassol
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Reiterating Nicosia’s neutral position, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said: “Cyprus remains uninvolved in any military conflicts and positions itself as part of the solution rather than the problem.”
He added: “Such statements are not pleasant, but they do not reflect reality. Cyprus is not participating in any military engagements.”
The latest spat comes just one month after Nasrallah called on Lebanon to “open the sea” to allow Syrian migrants to make their way to Cyprus.
He said: “A national decision should be made to open the sea to anyone who wants to leave for Europe, for Cyprus, the European Union country closest to the Middle East.”
