Israel is to deploy around 20,000 commandos in Cyprus in a move to protect its energy projects.

The Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Demetris Christofias, met in February in order to discuss the two countries' joint ventures. Some analysts have suggested that the move will be seen as an aggressive one from some Middle Eastern states who share close proximity with Cyprus, including Syria and Lebanon.

Under the agreement, it was reported that PM Netanyahu reportedly offered to undertake all the expenses required to construct a gas plant needed to extract the natural gas found in the Mediterranean Sea. In exchange, he requested that all the 10,000 personnel that would work at the plant be brought in from Israel with their families.