In a televised address on Wednesday, the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, issued a warning to Cyprus, stating that the country would face war if it allows Israel to launch military operations from its territory. Nasrallah emphasized that such an act would be considered an act of war by Hezbollah.

The Lebanese militant group leader stressed that if Cypriot airports and bases are used by the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon, the Cypriot government would be seen as part of the war. Nasrallah declared that in such a scenario, Hezbollah would respond with "no rules" and "no ceilings," indicating a potential unrestricted and intensive conflict.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has previously launched barrages of rockets and drones into Israel since Hamas attacked the country on October 7. In response, Israel carried out air strikes that resulted in the deaths of numerous Hezbollah fighters, including a top commander. These events have raised concerns among Israeli military officials who have warned of a possible wider escalation with devastating consequences.

Located approximately 250 kilometers away from the Lebanese coastline, Cyprus has been intensifying its defense cooperation with Israel, conducting joint military exercises and signing various arms procurement agreements. Notably, Cyprus is not a member of NATO.

Responding to Nasrallah's threats, the Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides emphasized that Cyprus remains uninvolved in any military conflicts and positions itself as part of the solution rather than the problem. He highlighted Cyprus' commitment to peace and stability, citing the country's humanitarian corridor and its recognized role as a facilitator in the Arab world. Christodoulides confirmed that Cyprus maintains open diplomatic channels with both the Lebanese and Iranian governments.

In a separate incident last month, Nasrallah called on Lebanon to allow Syrian migrants to make their way to Cyprus by "opening the sea." This request was made in the context of seeking a national decision to provide an escape route for those seeking to reach Europe, with Cyprus being the European Union country closest to the Middle East.

As tensions escalate in the region, the threat of war between Hezbollah and Cyprus looms large. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a de-escalation to avoid any further hostilities with dire consequences.