Police helicopter Akritas returned to base at Larnaca airport at 5.30pm on Friday, having successfully accomplished its mission alongside firefighters battling Israel’s wildfires.
Akritas had taken off on Thursday morning with a full crew and assisted firefighting operations in Israel on Thursday and Friday.
In a post on X, the justice ministry said Akritas had “accomplished its mission with complete success”.
Earlier on Friday, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said “the Republic of Cyprus was the first state to respond to the call of neighbouring Israel.”
“We were in constant communication from the very beginning and responded within the framework of our own capabilities,” he said.
The spokesman added that Cyprus “also offered ground forces in the event that they would strengthen firefighting efforts.”
“Israel has not needed them so far. We are at Israel’s disposal, as of course also for the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism,” he said.
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