• NIB@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    They have US military bases there

    There are no US military bases in Cyprus. There are british ones(since Cyprus used to be part of the British Empire).

    And there is 0% chance that Cyprus would let israeli military launch attacks from Cyprus.

    Nor is there much strategic reason to do so, unless Hezbollah has some s-300/400 and Israel needs to go around them and attack from a different direction. But they dont. And even if they had, Cyprus has basically no reason to allow Israel to do that and there is 0 precedent for that either.

    I think it is just Hezbollah being an attention whore.

      • Skua@kbin.earth
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        5 months ago

        Akrotiri and Dhekelia are British, not American, although American units are based there. More pertinently though, they’re not part of the country of Cyprus. They’re British overseas territories on the same island.

          • Skua@kbin.earth
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            5 months ago

            Because it’s a list of “bases owned or used by the United States Armed Forces”. But that doesn’t change the fact that, as I said in my other comment, those bases are not in the country of Cyprus

            • solo@slrpnk.net
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              5 months ago

              I have to admit I thought RAF Akrotiri was an American base within the British one. By checking it out, you were correct to mention the term “used”. And I was wrong.

              Also, I think what you mentioned earlier is the key element:

              American units are based there

              • Skua@kbin.earth
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                5 months ago

                Right, but… still not in Cyprus. And this entire thread started off as a question about why Hezbollah would view Cyprus as a target

                • solo@slrpnk.net
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                  5 months ago

                  why Hezbollah would view Cyprus as a target

                  • Actually, according to Reuters “Nasrallah also threatened Cyprus - the EU member state in closest proximity to Lebanon, with which it has cordial relations - accusing it of allowing Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises.”

                  • In the threat local airports were mentioned, not only military bases

                  • If you take a look at the wiki page of RAF Akrotiri they talk about several incidents in support of Israel, starting in the 1970’s. For incidents that specifically involved Lebanon, the answer would be in the sections: 2000s–2010s and Controversies.

                  • It could also be hint for other military bases in area, willing to have similar approach

                  • Skua@kbin.earth
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                    5 months ago

                    RAF Akrotiri is not in the country of Cyprus, it does not explain why Cyprus the country would be a target