Cypriot intelligence chief visited Lebanon for maritime boundary discussions

Tasos Tzionis, the head of the Cyprus Intelligence Service (KYP), conducted a series of political and military meetings in Beirut during June 2026. According to the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, Tzionis met with the commander of the Lebanese Army, General Rodolphe Haikal, and the Director of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Tony Kahwaji. The report also alleges that he held talks with leadership figures from Hezbollah, though specific details regarding the participants or the content of those discussions remain undisclosed.

The primary focus of the mission was to solidify bilateral relations and emphasize the importance of the maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement signed in Beirut on November 26, 2025. Tzionis reportedly urged Lebanese officials to uphold the terms of this deal amidst rising tensions between Nicosia and Ankara. The Turkish government has consistently opposed Cyprus's maritime demarcation efforts and energy initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean, claiming they infringe upon its rights.

While the Cypriot government officially confirmed that Tzionis visited Lebanon in June and held various contacts, it declined to comment on the substance of the meetings or the identities of his counterparts, including the reported engagement with Hezbollah. No further details regarding the status of the agreement or subsequent diplomatic actions have been provided by official sources.