Greek Military Plane with Cypriots on Board Lands in Larnaca

A Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft, provided by the Greek Ministry of Defense to evacuate Cypriot citizens from Lebanon, arrived at Larnaca Airport on Thursday.

The plane touched down around 1:00 p.m. today before continuing its scheduled flight to Athens.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias stated that he had been "informed in real time" by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, about "the successful rescue of 38 Cypriot citizens and 22 Greek citizens from Beirut" and the aircraft's entry into Cypriot airspace.

• "I congratulate everyone who contributed to this operation," the minister remarked.

The spokesperson for Cyprus's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodoros Gotsis, told the Cyprus News Agency on Thursday morning that "new developments are expected throughout the day."

It was announced the previous day that a Greek aircraft would carry out the evacuation of Cypriot citizens from Lebanon.

According to estimates by the Cyprus News Agency, approximately 1,200 Cypriot citizens currently reside in Lebanon, while the Greek population there could be as high as 7,000.

The deployment of military aircraft to evacuate Cypriots from Lebanon occurred after commercial flight tickets were rapidly sold out.

Following the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Republic of Cyprus authorities have been fully prepared for the potential evacuation of European citizens and third-country nationals from Lebanon and Israel.

The national evacuation plan, ESTIA, which facilitates the reception and repatriation of third-country nationals, was fully activated on Tuesday evening.