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Operation Kosmos

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Coordinates: 33°49′16″N 035°29′18″E / 33.82111°N 35.48833°E / 33.82111; 35.48833
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Evacuation of Greek and Cypriot nationals from Lebanon
Part of Israel-Hezbollah war
TypeEvacuation
Location
Beirut, Lebanon

33°49′16″N 035°29′18″E / 33.82111°N 35.48833°E / 33.82111; 35.48833
Planned byGreek Ministry of National Defence, Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ObjectiveEvacuate Greek and Cypriot nationals from Lebanon
Date3 October 2024 (2024-10-03)
Executed byHellenic Armed Forces
OutcomeSuccessful evacuation

As a result of the Israeli ground operation in Lebanon after Hezbollahs attacks on Israel, various foreign governments decided to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon.[1] Cyprus activated the "Estia" plan to accommodate for this, including the evacuation of both Greek and Cypriot nationals in conjunction with the Greek government.[2] As a result of this, an operation, codenamed "Kosmos" was given for the Non-combatant evacuation operation.[3]

Planning

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On late Tuesday evening, October 2, 2024, Cyprus activated the "Estia" plan after the Iranian strikes against Israel, which included the evacuation of its own citizens from Lebanon.[4][5] Cyprus through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense requested an aircraft from Greece to assist in the evacuation of Cypriot nationals from Lebanon and as such, a joint operation, codenamed "Kosmos" was drafted by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff which aimed to evacuate Greek and Greek Cypriot nationals from Beirut International Airport.[6][7]

Operation

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A Hellenic Air Force C-130 took off from an undisclosed airfield on the morning of October 3 and landed at Beiruts airport near enough midday. By approximately 13:00, the C-130 landed at Larnaca International Airport, dropping off the Cypriot nationals and taking off for again for Greece.[8][9] In total, 60 citizens were successfully evacuated.[10][11] In the operation, the Hellenic Air Force with a unit from the Special Warfare Command for security were used with the operation being monitored by the Greek Ministry of Defense, the Greek and Cypriot Ministries of Foreign affairs and being in co-ordination with both Israeli and Lebanese authorities.[12][13]

Reactions

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The Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias thanked everyone for their co-operation in the operation and added that he was fully aware of all movements in the operation until the enterance of the aircraft in the Nicosia FIR which signalled mission completion.[14] The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated from Orestiada "I was informed with pleasure that the operation that was undertaken by the Ministry of National Defense, to transport securley, our Greek and Cypriot citizens from Beirut airport was completed" further adding, "Once again, our Armed Forces are capable of completeing these types of operations, whever they may be needed and above all, to protect our citizens, Greek and Cypriots".[15] The Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos extended his warmest gratitude to the Greek government for assisting in the operation.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Pereira, Miguel; Kourtoglou, Yiannis (5 October 2024). "Australia starts evacuating nationals from Lebanon via Cyprus". Reuters.
  2. ^ "Letymbiotis announces activation of Cyprus' 'Estia' evacuation plan". knews.com.cy. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  3. ^ "Πώς στήθηκε η επιχείρηση "Κόσμος" στο Λίβανο – Οι κομάντος και ο δίαυλος με Τελ Αβίβ" (in Greek). 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. ^ "Σε πλήρη εφαρμογή το σχέδιο Εστία – Τι λέει η κυβέρνηση για τις λάμψεις στον ουρανό της Κύπρου - NOMISMA" (in Greek). 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  5. ^ "Τέθηκε σε εφαρμογή το σχέδιο Εστία-Ετοιμότητα Κύπρο για παροχή βοήθειας σε πολίτες τρίτων χωρών". Τέθηκε σε εφαρμογή το σχέδιο Εστία-Ετοιμότητα Κύπρο για παροχή βοήθειας σε πολίτες τρίτων χωρών. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  6. ^ "Η επιχείρηση απεγκλωβισμού των Ελλήνων και Κυπρίων από το Λίβανο (pics) | Liberal.gr". www.liberal.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  7. ^ "Foreigners flee Lebanon on flights and ferries as Israeli offensive intensifies". timesofisrael.com. 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ Redefined, Defence (2024-10-03). "Επιχείρηση απεγκλωβισμού πολιτών Ελλάδας και Κύπρου από τον Λίβανο - Με C-130 της Ελληνικής Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας". DEFENCE ReDEFiNED (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. ^ "EU countries continue to evacuate citizens from Lebanon". euronews. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  10. ^ Konstantinidis, Alkis; Kambas, Michele (3 October 2024). "Foreigners flee Lebanon as Israeli offensive intensifies". Reuters.
  11. ^ "What are countries doing to get their nationals out of Lebanon?". Voice of America. 2024-10-06. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  12. ^ "Απεγκλωβισμός από τον Λίβανο: C-130 απομάκρυνε Ελληνες και Κύπριους πολίτες". HuffPost Greece (in Greek). 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  13. ^ "ΓΕΕΘΑ: Με επιτυχία η επιχείρηση απεγκλωβισμού των Ελλήνων από το Λίβανο - Δείτε φωτογραφίες". www.makthes.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  14. ^ "Απεγκλωβισμός από τον Λίβανο: C-130 απομάκρυνε Ελληνες και Κύπριους πολίτες". HuffPost Greece (in Greek). 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  15. ^ Ομάδα, Συντακτική (2024-10-03). "Κ. Μητσοτάκης για επιστροφή Ελλήνων και Κυπρίων από Βηρυτό: Οι ΕΔ είναι σε θέση όπου χρειαστεί να φέρουν εις πέρας τέτοιες αποστολές". ertnews.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  16. ^ Kombos, Konstantinos (3 October 2024). ""Η πραγματοποίηση της πτήσης διευθετήθηκε μετά από συνεννόηση των Υπουργών Άμυνας των δύο χωρών. Εκφράζουμε θερμές ευχαριστίες στην Ελληνική Κυβέρνηση για τη συνεννόηση και άμεση ανταπόκριση."". twitter.com.
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