The United States Government has requested the assistance of the Republic of Cyprus to facilitate the departure of American citizens who may seek to leave countries in the Middle East, in the context of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The request, according to available information, concerns humanitarian purposes.
To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 2, 2026
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Get information at @TravelGov and you can call the department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444. pic.twitter.com/G8grZVgmCF
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed that any arrangements would relate to facilitating the repatriation of third-country nationals, as has occurred previously.
Request for humanitarian facilitation
According to the information reported, the US request concerns exclusively humanitarian reasons. Washington has asked to deploy United States Marines to assist in securing a humanitarian corridor that would be created for evacuation purposes.
Cyprus has previously provided assistance in similar circumstances, facilitating the evacuation of foreign nationals from the wider Middle East during periods of conflict.
The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq
— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026
In response to questions about whether American soldiers are expected in Cyprus, Mr Letymbiotis stated that, “what may arise, on the basis of requests received, are facilities for the repatriation of third-country nationals, as happened in the summer with the United States”.
Previous evacuation operations
Cyprus has assisted on multiple occasions in the evacuation of Palestinians and Lebanese nationals who were at risk due to wars initiated by Israel in the broader region.
Following the October 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel, Cyprus was again used for the transfer of Western nationals, particularly American citizens, out of Israel.
US travel advisory
As already known, the US Department of State has urged American citizens in nearly all countries of the Middle East, including Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, to “depart now” using commercial means.
The advisory cites “serious risks” to their safety amid the war conducted by US and Israeli forces against Iran since Saturday.
The instruction was made public by Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar via X and concerns 14 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria.
Source: hellasjournal.com