Hezbollah Leader Threatens Cyprus

The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group threatened war against Cyprus on Wednesday if the nation allows Israel to use its territory in any conflict.

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.
—Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader

During a televised address, Nasrallah also warned that “there will be no place safe from our missiles and our drones” in Israel if war breaks out between the two enemies. Hezbollah would fight with “no rules” and “no ceilings,” he added.

Cyprus and Israel have strengthened defense ties in recent years and have signed multiple arms export agreements. The two have also conducted joint military drills.

Watch Germany: Cyprus is a member of the European Union. Threatening it means threatening the 26 other member states, especially Germany, which sent special forces to this crucial island in October last year and practically controls it. Back then, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Hezbollah not to intervene in the conflict in Gaza.

After months of ignoring that warning, Hezbollah is about to face an Israeli offensive. Now that Hezbollah has threatened Cyprus as well, expect Germany to become more involved.

Learn more: Read “As You Watch Gaza—Watch Germany.”