A flight to evacuate Cypriot nationals from Lebanon, operated with a Lebanese carrier, is planned for late Friday night, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said on Friday.

The additional Middle East Airlines flight is open for those in possession of residency in the Republic and the exact number of passengers interested is still being compiled, Gotsis told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

The news came in the wake of a successful rescue operation from Beirut on Thursday of 38 Cypriot and 22 Greek nationals, transported by a Lockheed C-130 aircraft provided by the Greek ministry of defence.

Meanwhile, the Australian Associated press reported that Qantas will operate two non-stop flights between Cyprus and Sydney, chartered by the Australian government, to carry up to 500 passengers from Beirut on Saturday.

The Qantas flights are scheduled to depart onward from Cyprus on Monday and Wednesday.

Further flights are planned subject to demand, the Australian foreign ministry said.

Cyprus had so far accepted requests from two countries for the Estia evacuation plan of foreign nationals, Gotsis added. One of the requests had come from China, involving the arrival by sea of about 80 people earlier this week.

There have also been four requests for “assisted departure” including a request from Portugal involving 44 EU nationals, Gotsis said.

He added that all had since left the island, except some holders of valid visas. More arrivals through these active requests are expected, he added.

Asked about reports of Belgian soldiers arriving, Gotsis said any arrival of foreign military personnel is exclusively linked to the possible need to assist in evacuations of their citizens.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas stressed Cyprus’ involvement in the region is purely on humanitarian grounds.

“We are offering services to foreign countries to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon and I believe this proves yet again Cyprus’ geostrategic and geopolitical role.”

The government is fully responsive to requests in a bid to help as much as possible, Palmas specified.

Asked if a second military aircraft from Greece will be used to airlift citizens, he said at the moment there was no such need but if it is later required, the Greek government will certainly respond.

Additionally “top security measures are being taken” in key sites such as ports and airports, with both police officers and members of the national guard.

All the island’s facilities are readying themselves for the eventuality of a mass evacuation as it has been estimated that up to 100,000 will need to be evacuated from Lebanon.

Cyprus has the capacity to accommodate around 7,000 people if the Estia plan becomes active, Gotsis told Philenews.

The island is continuing to receive a steady inflow of evacuees through private means from Lebanon and Israel and is currently an escape route for hundreds of individuals leaving, mainly on flights from Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv flights have occupancy rates of 90-95 per cent with most passengers being Israeli nationals, airport operator Hermes said.

Meanwhile, Ayia Napa marina has seen the arrival of about five boats daily, mainly luxury vessels, according to unofficial reports relayed by state broadcaster CyBC.

These are ferrying between five to 20 people each, mainly European nationals or Lebanese dual citizenship holders, and diplomatic staff.

Most arrivals are making their way onwards via flights from Larnaca airport following brief hotel stays.

Hotels in Ayia Napa have been preparing for the eventuality of mass arrivals, however, at present, although bookings by Israelis and Lebanese nationals have increased, there is still considerable availability, CyBC reported.

Larnaca marina also saw the arrival of a boat from Lebanon overnight, carrying 21 people, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported.

Europeans and other nationals, as well as diplomatic and administrative staff of embassies, were onboard the vessel.

At noon on Thursday, a boat with three passengers also arrived at Larnaca marina from Lebanon.

Elsewhere, Limassol port authorities are likewise in full readiness in the event of more arrivals.

Meanwhile, flights of Israeli airlines to and from Cyprus continue as normal for the moment, according to CNA. On average there are 14 daily arrivals from Tel Aviv at the island’s two airports (10 in Larnaca and four in Paphos).

Ten flights are scheduled to arrive at Larnaca airport from Israel and Lebanon on Friday, amid heightened airport security.

Nine flights are scheduled to arrive from Tel Aviv and nine to depart to Israel, mainly by Israeli carriers, which are trying to make as many flights as possible.

Getting out of Lebanon is more difficult, since most airlines have stopped flying to the country. For the past several days, only two flights operate from Beirut, run by Middle East Airlines to Larnaca airport.

The Republic is in constant cooperation with the European Union, the United States, as well as the regional states, over developments in the Middle East, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday, which will be the main focus of the upcoming MED9 meeting in Paphos.