星空传媒

Skip to main content

U.S. troops deployed to Cyprus as fears of wider Middle East war intensify

Dozens of U.S. troops have been deployed to Cyprus amid sharply escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and they are preparing for a range of contingencies including a possible evacuation operation should a full-blown war erupt, two US officials told CNN. (ideeone / E+) Dozens of U.S. troops have been deployed to Cyprus amid sharply escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and they are preparing for a range of contingencies including a possible evacuation operation should a full-blown war erupt, two US officials told CNN. (ideeone / E+)
Share

Dozens of U.S. troops have been deployed to Cyprus amid sharply escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and they are preparing for a range of contingencies including a possible evacuation operation from Lebanon for U.S. citizens should a full-blown war erupt, four U.S. officials told CNN.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said earlier this week that the U.S. military would be deploying 鈥渁 small number of U.S. military personnel forward鈥 to the region 鈥渙ut of an abundance of caution.鈥 But he declined to say how many troops were deployed, where they were sent, and what branch they belonged to.

Cyprus played a key role in helping to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon during Israel鈥檚 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, facilitating the departure and accommodation of tens of thousands of people at the time as they fled the conflict.

Cyprus鈥檚 deputy government spokesperson, Yiannis Antoniou, told Reuters last month that the island nation is again on standby to help if needed.

The UK announced on Tuesday that it was sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon if one becomes necessary.

鈥淭he most important message from me this evening is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately and I just want to reinforce that,鈥 said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The U.S. State Department has also repeatedly warned U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial travel options are still available.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have reached new highs over the last week, beginning when Israel carried out covert attacks that detonated Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel followed up by pounding Beirut and southern Lebanon with airstrikes that have killed hundreds of civilians and Hezbollah fighters in recent days.

The militant group has responded with rocket attacks targeting Israeli sites including Ramat David air base east of Haifa, and on Wednesday launched a missile directly at Tel Aviv which was intercepted by Israeli air defenses. Later on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces announced it would be calling up two reserve brigades for a mission in northern Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the US is 鈥渨orking tirelessly鈥 on diplomatic efforts to prevent an 鈥渇ull-blown war鈥 between Israel and Lebanon.

鈥淩isk of escalation in the region is acute, and I know that we are all very much focused on that,鈥 Blinken told his counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

A US official told CNN on Monday that 鈥渨e are the closest we鈥檝e been to spiraling to a regional war鈥 since Hamas鈥 Oct. 7 attack.

One of the biggest concerns for the US right now is that Iran, which is a key backer of Hezbollah, will get involved, the official said. Tehran has not intervened yet, but they will if they believe they are about to lose their most powerful proxy force, Hezbollah, the official added.

CTVNews.ca 星空传媒

A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone鈥檚 backyard.

The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.

Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.

The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

Local Spotlight

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.