Cypriot firefighting mission in France concludes

The Cypriot firefighting mission in France has officially concluded following the stabilization of wildfires in the southwest region near Perpignan. National Civil Protection Coordinator and Fire Chief Nikos Longinos confirmed that the two deployed aircraft helped contain the fire front and manage flare-ups throughout the operation. The mission crew returned to Cyprus on Friday via private flight. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Paphos on Sunday, following a return route with refueling stops in Sardinia, Lamezia (Italy), and Souda (Crete). Longinos emphasized that Cyprus maintained full operational readiness during the deployment, with 11 firefighting aircraft remaining on the island in addition to those available at British bases. While the situation is now under control, the return schedule could have been adjusted if French authorities requested continued assistance. The deployment was carried out under the European Union's rescEU Civil Protection Mechanism.