📋 Tender Overview
In the framework of Operation Wings of Fire, the crews and aircraft of the Israeli firefighting mission, led by the National Security Ministry and under the command of Israel Police Air Division in cooperation with the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, are currently assisting the Republic of Cyprus in extinguishing wildfires that have broken out in the Limassol area, due to weather conditions that include a heat wave, strong winds and high temperatures. The Israeli crews have been flying over forested areas in order to rapidly respond to any developing fire, as per the modus operandi in Israel. At the same time, the firefighting crews have joined their local counterparts.
The Israeli aid mission was dispatched to Cyprus following a request by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for immediate assistance.
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir: [translated from Hebrew]
"The State of Israel is always pleased to assist the Republic of Cyprus. Today occurred the first flights during which flame retardants were released in order to assist in extinguishing the fires. The 'Air Tractor' firefighting aircraft, with four-person crews, trained ground crews, wildfire experts and equipment including six tons of flame retardants, are in operation in Cyprus, together with all forces. The rapid deployment of the Israeli mission to assist Cyprus was made possible by the strong partnership between our countries."
Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Anolik [translated from Hebrew]:
"Israel and Cyprus have been cooperating for over a decade in dealing with emergency situations and firefighting. Cypriot firefighting aircraft have helped extinguish several wildfires in Israel. In April of this year, both countries issued a joint stamp to mark this close cooperation. The mutual firefighting assistance is part of the broad cooperation in emergency preparedness and the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change."
Cypriot Justice and Public Order Minister Koukkides-Prokopiou [translated from Hebrew, which was translated from Greek]:
"I would like to express the sincere gratitude of the Republic of Cyprus to the State of Israel for the cooperation and the assistance. Hosting Minister Ben-Gvir at the coordination center today has provided the opportunity for a productive discussion between the two countries on firefighting and dealing with emergency situations, as well as other issues related to national security, such as the fight against terrorism, that are of interest to both countries. We expect to have even more beneficial contacts in the near future."
The National Security Council in the Prime Minister's Office, the National Security Ministry, the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, the Israel Police Air Division – which
operates the Elbit Systems firefighting aircraft, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Population and Immigration Authority, the National Emergency Management Authority, the Defense Ministry, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik and the Israeli Embassy in Cyprus are participating in the assistance operation.
Right-to-left: A representative of the Cyprus National Guard, Cypriot Deputy Police Chief Demetris Demetriou, a representative of the Cyprus National Guard, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik, Cyprus Fire Service Chief Fire Officer Nikos Longinos, Cypriot Chief Crisis Management Coordinator Andreas Gregoriou, Cypriot Justice and Public Order Minister Anna Koukkides-Prokopiou, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Cyprus Police Chief Stylianos Papatheodorou.
