Athens (dpa) — The defence minister of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, has confirmed that US military aircraft arrived at an air base in the south-western city of Paphos, as the airstrikes being traded by Iran and Israel keep the island on edge.
Speaking on the state broadcaster on Wednesday, he said the US aircraft were not combat jets but transport planes used to move military personnel and, if needed, civilians.
Local media also reported the presence of tanker aircraft capable of refuelling jets mid-air.
The exact number of US aircraft positioned in Cyprus has not been disclosed.
Palmas also addressed concerns among residents of Cyprus who, from the island’s southern coast, have been witnessing Iranian attacks and Israeli air defences in the night sky.
The island nation lies 250 kilometres from Israel.
Palmas assured the public that, although the missiles were clearly visible, they were far away.
He emphasized that Cyprus was playing a humanitarian role in the situation and was not involved in the conflict.
Over the weekend, US media reported that Washington had deployed dozens of tanker aircraft to Europe to enable rapid deployment to the Middle East if needed.
These aircraft play a critical role in large-scale combat operations by allowing fighter jets to remain airborne longer and reach distant targets.
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