A US Warship Docked In Cyprus, Ready To Support Civilians If Middle East Conflict Escalates.
The US amphibious assault ship USS Wasp docked in the southern Cypriot port of Limassol for a scheduled visit. However, the ship’s arrival comes at a critical time, with the US saying it could aid civilians if tensions escalate in the Middle East.
US Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher said the visit comes as the US continues to do everything it can to ease regional tensions. The US also stands ready to support civilians caught in crisis on X (formerly Twitter) and the Partner Guide.
As tensions rise between Israel, Iran and Iranian-affiliated forces, EU member Cyprus has expressed its willingness to help evacuate Europeans and third-country nationals if necessary.
The Cypriot government stressed its involvement in providing humanitarian aid, with its spokesman Konstantinos Lytmpiotis saying: “Humanitarian aid is what we do.”
The visit to the port comes as tensions in the region rise.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel for the July 31 killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. An incident for which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
The situation was further complicated by the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Shukr was allegedly responsible for a July 27 rocket attack on the Golan Heights that killed 12 children.
U.S. officials have warned that if Iran launches a large-scale attack on Israel, it could lead to an all-out war.
The ongoing conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has killed about 1,200 people and taken 251 hostages.
Iran’s allies have specifically targeted Cyprus, which hosts a British military base that the U.S. and Britain use to launch airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Cyprus of supporting Israel. By allowing Israel to use Cypriot airports and bases in a speech on July 19. He warned that Cyprus could face retaliation, saying that opening Cypriot airports and bases to Israeli enemies to attack Lebanon. It showed that the Cypriot government was part of the war, and the opposition would also deal with it as part of the war.
