ATHENS, Aug. 9 Cyprus is not involved in military operations or any conflict in the Middle East, but only provides humanitarian aid, Cypriot government spokesman Constantinos Letimpiotis said on Friday, responding to opposition accusations of a concentration of foreign military forces on the island.
The largest opposition Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus (AKEL) earlier demanded that the government of Nikos Christodoulides answer whether the United States' increasing use of not only bases but also the country's infrastructure at such a critical moment really makes Cyprus a bridge for peace, as the government proclaims, or whether it makes it «part of the problem.»
AKEL said the Christodoulides government must put the interests of Cyprus «above the interests and orders of any third countries.»
The party noted that the explosive military atmosphere in the region creates grave risks for the security of all states and peoples in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, and the continued concentration of US military forces on the island, both in British bases and beyond, increases these risks and concerns. AKEL said that Cyprus should not be a base for foreign armies.
Cypriot government spokesman Letimpiotis called AKEL's position «sadly irresponsible», which he said «keeps pace with fake news».
«When the humanitarian role of our country is recognized and welcomed by the entire international community, it is worth considering what the purpose of choosing to become the bearers of false news is… We expect that AKEL will not easily accept erroneous views aimed at harming our country,» the cabinet spokesman said in a statement.
Letympiotis assured that Cyprus remains «part of the solution, not part of the problem, and this is recognized by the international community.» He later wrote on social media X about «hybrid disinformation actions.»
«Hybrid actions of disinformation and spreading fake news must not be allowed to have a misleading effect. Cyprus is not involved in military operations or any conflicts. Humanitarian aid and facilitating evacuations is what we do. Those who oppose such actions oppose international humanitarian law,» he said.
Under the post of the government press secretary, AKEL Central Committee member Haris Karamanos cited data on the arrival of foreign troops in Cyprus. According to him, recently a large amount of military equipment has arrived at the port of Limassol and is being transferred to the Akrotiri bases. The presence of American soldiers has increased, they do not have enough beds, they are accommodated in tents inside the bases. As of August 4, 150 American Marines remained at the training center in Paphos, where they conducted exercises with drones. On August 5, two American transports unloaded missile launchers at Larnaca airport, an hour later they loaded them back and left. On August 8, early in the morning, «full American cargo planes» arrived at the airport of the Akrotiri base. On the same day, an American aircraft carrier refueled at the port of Larnaca, according to Karamanos's reports.
The politician also published the front page of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar with the headline: «Cyprus enters the war on the enemy's side. America is mobilizing military and technological resources and turning the island into a deterrent base, and the airports of Larnaca and Paphos into a service for the Israeli authorities.»
The day before, the US Navy website reported that on August 8, the USS Wasp, carrying the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, capable of conducting special operations (Special Operations Capable, SOC), arrived in the port of Limassol in Cyprus. The US Navy notes that Cyprus is a «frequent destination for US Navy ships operating in the Mediterranean.» In addition, according to Western media reports, a large base of the Israeli intelligence service MOSSAD has been established in Cyprus.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made his first threats against Cyprus in a televised address on June 19, saying Hezbollah could consider him involved in a war if he continued to allow Israel to use its airports and bases for military purposes. The island nation's president, Nikos Christodoulides, responded to the threats by saying Cyprus was in no way involved in military conflicts and was not part of the Middle East problem, but part of its solution.