Nicosia, Cyprus. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged Cypriots not to confuse the Lebanese state with Hezbollah after a drone fired from Lebanon hit Cyprus six days earlier. He said the act was carried out outside the authority of the Lebanese state and contradicted its sovereign decisions.
Raggi rejects linkage between Lebanon and Hezbollah actions
Raggi said the drone had been fired by Hezbollah and stressed that “these acts do not represent Lebanon, its state, its people, or its values.” He said he rejects “any attempt to turn Lebanon into a platform for the execution of external agendas.”
He said he had called on Cyprus “not to confuse the Lebanese state with those acting outside its authority and legal framework,” adding that the Lebanese government had “declared all military and security activities carried out by Hezbollah to be unlawful.”
Raggi added that “the attacks against Cyprus must be understood in this context,” describing them as acts carried out outside state authority and in direct contradiction with Lebanon’s sovereign decisions. He expressed “deep regret” and offered Lebanon’s “full and unequivocal rejection” of the acts “without reservation.”
Background on Hezbollah and Cyprus-Lebanon ties
Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist paramilitary group based in Lebanon and aligned with the current government of Iran. Its political wing, the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, holds 15 seats in Lebanon’s parliament.
Relations between Cyprus and Lebanon have strengthened since Joseph Aoun was elected Lebanon’s president in January last year. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides visited Lebanon the following day, becoming the first foreign leader to meet Aoun after the election.
Aoun visited Cyprus in July last year, saying “Cyprus has always been by Lebanon’s side” and highlighting the proximity of the two countries in common interests and challenges. He said “Cyprus has always been supportive of Lebanon,” adding that Lebanon “relies” on Cyprus and will continue to do so. Christodoulides expressed his “great joy” at welcoming Aoun to Cyprus.
How do you think Cyprus and Lebanon can prevent future incidents from escalating tensions?