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US Ship Docks in Cyprus, Could Assist Civilians If Mideast Tensions Flare

A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
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US Ship Docks in Cyprus, Could Assist Civilians If Mideast Tensions Flare

A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) as it is docked in Limassol port, amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in Limassol, Cyprus, August 10, 2024. (Reuters)

A US amphibious assault ship has docked in Cyprus as part of a pre-arranged visit, but could be used to support civilians if hostilities flare in the Middle East, the US ambassador to Cyprus said.

EU member Cyprus has offered to assist, if needed, in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals should tensions spill over in the Middle East amid a standoff between Israel, Iran and Iran-affiliated groups.

"The visit comes at a time when the United States continues all efforts along with key partners to de-escalate regional tensions and to be prepared to support civilians in crisis," US Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher said on X on Friday.

The USS Wasp arrived in the southern port of Limassol on Aug 8.

The eastern Mediterranean island says it is not involved in military operations or any conflict.

"Humanitarian assistance is what we do," said government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.

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Philippine Military Says Chinese Air Force Jets Endangered Its Patrol Plane with Risky Maneuver

Philippine Coast Guard personnel (L) maneuver their rigid hull inflatable boat past their Vietnamese counterparts (R) during a joint maritime off Bataan in the disputed South China Sea on August 9, 2024. (AFP)
Philippine Coast Guard personnel (L) maneuver their rigid hull inflatable boat past their Vietnamese counterparts (R) during a joint maritime off Bataan in the disputed South China Sea on August 9, 2024. (AFP)
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Philippine Military Says Chinese Air Force Jets Endangered Its Patrol Plane with Risky Maneuver

Philippine Coast Guard personnel (L) maneuver their rigid hull inflatable boat past their Vietnamese counterparts (R) during a joint maritime off Bataan in the disputed South China Sea on August 9, 2024. (AFP)
Philippine Coast Guard personnel (L) maneuver their rigid hull inflatable boat past their Vietnamese counterparts (R) during a joint maritime off Bataan in the disputed South China Sea on August 9, 2024. (AFP)

The Philippine military chief condemned Saturday what he said was the provocative actions of two Chinese air force aircraft that executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine air force plane on routine patrol in the South China Sea.

All those aboard the Philippine air force NC-212i light transport plane were unharmed and returned safely to Clark Air Base north of Manila after Thursday morning’s incident over the Scarborough Shoal, Gen. Romeo Brawner said without providing other details.

There was no immediate reaction from Chinese officials in Manila or Beijing, which dispute sovereign control over the rich fishing atoll.

“The incident posed a threat to Philippine air force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation,” Brawner said in a statement.

The incident has been reported to Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs, which has filed numerous diplomatic protests against China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.

Brawner suggested the incident would not stop the Philippines from undertaking such patrols in the contested region.

"We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law,” Brawner said.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand have overlapping territorial claims in the busy sea passage, a key global trade and security route, but hostilities have particularly flared since last year between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces in the Scarborough and another hotly disputed atoll, the Second Thomas Shoal.

The United States has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.