An alarm was raised in Nicosia at around 9:30 a.m., following reports of a suspicious object in the airspace near Lebanon.
As government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis said in a post, all the right steps were taken by the authorities to check it out and deal with it if needed, just to be safe.
According to information from RIK, an alarm was also sounded at the US Embassy in Nicosia and staff were taken to the basement as a precaution.
Greek F-16 fighter jets took off, which were spotted by civilians.
The alarm at the embassy ended shortly before 10:00 a.m., and US embassy staff returned to their duties.
Meanwhile, today's Cabinet meeting was postponed and an emergency meeting of the National Security Council was convened.
Travel advisory
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources in Nicosia describe the updated travel advisory issued by the US State Department as a standard precautionary procedure applied by the US State Department in various countries when regional developments are being assessed.
This particular stage is the mildest level of measures that can be taken. In practice, it does not involve the removal of personnel nor does it indicate the existence of any immediate threat. It simply provides the option, if they so wish, for family members of diplomats or a limited number of non-essential personnel to leave temporarily, if they deem it appropriate, diplomatic sources explained to CNA.
They noted that "authorized departure" differs significantly from "mandatory departure," which entails the compulsory departure of personnel. "The latter has been implemented in a number of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf due to developments in the region, which is not the case in Cyprus," the same diplomatic sources pointed out.
"The Republic of Cyprus is in constant communication and coordination with its partners and the competent authorities, while the situation is being continuously assessed. There is no indication that would justify concern regarding security in the country," they stressed.