Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon paid a working visit to neighboring Cyprus on Wednesday as the guest of Cypriot Defense Minister Christoforos Fokaides. During the visit, Ya’alon issued a stark warning about Iran’s regional aggression, adding that Tehran is constantly seeking to arm Hezbollah, and that Cypriot security forces have in the past year foiled an Iranian-Hezbollah attempt to set up terror cells on the island. He also described the chaos in Syria and the region as a kind of a third world war in which cultures and powers are clashing.
“The State of Israel views Cyprus as a true friend. Relations between the defense establishments, militaries, and intelligence communities go back years, are deep, and important. My arrival here symbolizes that,” Ya’alon said. The SOFA agreement with Cyprus, alongside close ties “with our good friend, Greece,” is vital for all states, he added. READ MORE
