A Cyprus’ military officer walks next of a sign bearing the U.S. and Cypriot flags at the site of a new helipad planing construction at the Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari, Cyprus, on April 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP With help from U.S. taxpayers, Cyprus is upgrading key military installations to strengthen the mission it has carved for itself as a safe haven in the eastern Mediterranean for evacuees from the conflict-wracked West Asia and as a humanitarian aid hub. Cyprus’ main Evangelos Florakis naval base, just 142 miles (229 kilometres) from Lebanon’s coast, will get a new, U.S. European Command-funded heliport that will be able to accommodate large, Chinook-type transport helicopters for airlifting evacuees out of conflict zones. Published – April 20, 2026 11:46 am IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Watch: ‘Stop this war and rein in Netanyahu’: Spanish Prime Minister Most popular Vande Bharat Express and other trains in India in 2026