what's at stake

Hezbollah’s threat surprised Cyprus; what’s at stake?

According to commentators, Hezbollah's vow to retaliate against Cyprus if it assists Israel in attacking Lebanon has emphasized the Mediterranean island's precarious geopolitical situation. Cypriots were taken aback when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah named them in a June 19 speech, claiming Cyprus would be deemed "part of the war" if Israel used Cypriot airports and bases in an attack on Lebanon. "The Cypriot government should be careful," he told reporters.