A few days ago, Cyprus insisted that the Israeli "Chariots of Fire" exercises on its territory were not aimed against any third party, especially Lebanon and Hezbollah.

When Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib received Cyprus' ambassador, Panayiotis Kyriacou, to ask for clarifications over the joint military exercises with the Israeli occupation, the Cypriot affirmed that the exercises are aimed at training the border guard to defend the island.

Cyprus' Foreign Ministry also claimed that the exercises were "based on fictitious scenarios" and "not targeted against any other country in the region."

However, the Cypriot statements were contrary to the statements issued by the Israeli occupation forces, which pointed out that the maneuvers - which are considered the largest military exercise in the history of the occupation - simulate aggression against Lebanon.

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Israeli media ridiculed Cypriot statements

The Cypriot's statements were ridiculed by the Israeli media, which considered that the Israeli occupation maneuvers simulate such a war.

In the same context, the Israeli media accompanied the IOF during maneuvers and pointed out that they simulated a multi-front war with a focus on the Lebanon front, noting that they target Lebanese Resistance group Hezbollah.

The Israeli quoted a security official as saying that the "Chariots of Fire" exercises in Cyprus took place in built-up, fortified, and overcrowded areas.

Locals living in the vicinity of the exercises had repeatedly complained of the noise caused by the artillery and military vehicles.

Anger in Cyprus over Israeli maneuvers

According to the Israeli website Walla!, Cyprus's main opposition party, Akel, had called the joint military exercises with the Israeli occupation forces "a dangerous development for the country." 

Akel, one of the two major parties on the island, said in a statement that Cyprus "should avoid cooperating with a foreign army with a history of occupation, colonization, war crimes and violation of international laws."