Belgium has decided to send soldiers to Cyprus to facilitate the repatriation of its nationals from Lebanon, according to the Belgian news agency Belga, citing AMNA.

The mission is being carried out for precautionary reasons and for fear of further escalation in the Middle East following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.

The Minister of Defence of Belgium, Ludwin Dedonder, stated that Cyprus is the ideal place for the removal of Belgian nationals who wish to leave Lebanon.

However, she made it clear that no military operation will be launched for the time being. To this day, there are still commercial flights from Lebanon, and Belgium’s defence ministry is awaiting the green light from the foreign ministry to launch a military operation.

Around 1,800 Belgian nationals are currently still in Lebanon, 90 of whom have requested repatriation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Belgian embassy in Lebanon is investigating whether more nationals want to return to Belgium.

In the meantime, Belgium sent the B-FAST team, the Belgian First Aid and Support Team, to Lebanon. In total, it has sent 150,000 euros worth of medicine and supplies to Lebanon via B-FAST, the country’s defence minister said.

Also read: Britain | To dispatch hundreds of soldiers in Cyprus