BEIRUT, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot Ambassador to Lebanon Panayiotis Kyriacou said on Wednesday that Cyprus' joint military exercise with Israel is not directed against Lebanon, Elnashra news website reported.
"The aim of these exercises is to train the border guards to defend the island of Cyprus," Kyriacou said during his meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib in the capital Beirut.
"The Cypriot Ministry of Defense will issue on Thursday a statement to clarify this matter after the end of the military exercises," the ambassador added.
On May 30, Cyprus and Israel began their "biggest ever" joint military exercise in the Cypriot air, sea, and land territory.
Israeli Defense Forces announced earlier that the joint drill with the Cypriot military is aimed at "improving the readiness of troops and their competence in operational missions deep in enemy territory." ■
