Cyprus to Help U.S. Evacuate Diplomats and Civilians If Needed

(Bloomberg) -- Cyprus approved a request from the U.S. authorities via the American embassy in Nicosia to temporarily deploy on the eastern Mediterranean island a rapid response unit to evacuate personnel working in US diplomatic missions in the region, as well as US citizens, if the need arises.

Cyprus agreed to the request given its policy to respond favorably to requests exclusively pertaining to humanitarian operations, according to statement from Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos.

Cypriot approval of the U.S. demand comes after Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at U.S.-Iraqi airbases in retaliation for an American airstrike that killed a top Iranian general.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tugwell in Athens at ptugwell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sotiris Nikas at snikas@bloomberg.net

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