LARNACA: The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is on standby to assist in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals if the Middle East conflict escalates, officials said Thursday. The European Union's easternmost state, Cyprus has in recent decades been a refuge for thousands of people fleeing war in the volatile region. Israel's antagonism with Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement has fueled fears of a wider conflict in a region already reeling from a 10-month war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.