As the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed European solidarity with Cyprus following Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's warning against opening airports and bases to Israel for striking Lebanon, new developments have arisen regarding potential targets in Cyprus.
**Four Key Bases**
Israeli Channel "News 12" identified potential targets that Hezbollah might strike in Cyprus. It noted that Cyprus has a small, relatively weak air force with somewhat outdated equipment, and that the western regions of Cyprus, approximately 300 kilometers from Lebanon's shores, house four main air bases.
The report highlighted that the western part of the island includes an air force base near Cyprus's main airport, a region known for tourism and vacationing. It mentioned that the air force base is 300 km from Lebanon's shores, a distance that Hezbollah could effectively target.
**Paphos Base**
The report indicated that the "Paphos" air base is the largest and most significant in Cyprus, featuring essential air infrastructure and numerous specialized communication units. Another potential target is the air force base in the suburb of "Lakatamia" southwest of Nicosia, which serves as a command center for the Cypriot Air Force and houses several aircraft and air surveillance units.
Additionally, the Troodos mountain range, the largest mountain range in the island, is seen as a potential target in worst-case scenarios. Although it does not have an airstrip, it operates as a radar base with many surveillance units and radar systems, also featuring air defense systems.
**British Base**
Among the vital air targets in Cyprus is the "Akrotiri" base belonging to the British Royal Air Force, located near the city of Limassol in southern Cyprus. Akrotiri is exclusively used by the British military and does not host operations of the Cypriot Air Force. It is the only base managed by the British Air Force in the Mediterranean and has been a launch point for operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and more recently, against the Houthis in Yemen. The air base in Akrotiri has previously hosted U.S. military operations; however, it is unclear if it has been involved in Israeli military activities.
**Hezbollah's Warning**
It is noteworthy that Nasrallah warned last Wednesday during a speech at the memorial of Taleb Abdullah, a prominent member of his party killed by Israeli fire last week, that Cyprus should beware of opening its airports and bases to Israel for operations against Lebanon. He revealed that Hezbollah received information indicating that Israel, which conducts annual maneuvers in Cyprus, might utilize Cypriot airports and bases to attack Lebanese territory if Hezbollah targets Israeli airports.
The Iranian-backed leader stated, "The Cypriot government must be warned that opening its airports and bases to Israel to target Lebanon means that the Cypriot government has become part of the war and we will treat it as part of the conflict."
Since last week, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the borders of both countries have significantly escalated, with increasing threats from both sides, particularly following the assassination of Taleb Abdullah. The Israeli army recently declared it had approved a plan to expand the war inside southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah vowed to strike all areas within Israel.
