Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The Turkish invasion of Cyprus was a military action launched by Turkey on 20 July 1974, following a Greek junta-sponsored coup d'état on the island on 15 July that overthrew President Makarios III. The operation, conducted in two major phases codenamed Operation Atilla, resulted in the occupation of the northern third of Cyprus and led to the de facto partition of the island. The invasion precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis, caused massive displacement of populations, and created a political deadlock that persists to the present day, with the northern part unilaterally declaring independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Background

The roots of the conflict lie in the complex Cyprus problem, emerging from the post-colonial structure established by the Zurich and London Agreements which created the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. This power-sharing arrangement between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots proved unstable, leading to intercommunal violence in 1963 and 1964. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus was deployed in 1964. Tensions were exacerbated by the pursuit of Enosis (union with Greece) by many Greek Cypriots and the countervailing Turkish Cypriot advocacy for Taksim (partition). The ruling Greek military junta of 1967–1974 in Athens and the EOKA B paramilitary group orchestrated the July 1974 coup, installing Nikos Sampson as president, which Turkey cited as a threat to the Turkish Cypriot community and a violation of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.

Invasion and initial operations

The first phase, Operation Atilla I, began at dawn on 20 July 1974 with amphibious and airborne assaults near Kyrenia, spearheaded by the Turkish Armed Forces. Key early battles included the Battle of Pentemili Beachhead and the Battle of Agirda. Turkish forces faced resistance from the Cypriot National Guard, elements of the Greek military, and the Greek Cypriot ELDYK contingent. Despite initial setbacks, Turkish troops secured a bridgehead connecting to the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina. A ceasefire was declared on 22 July, coinciding with the collapse of the Greek junta in Athens and the fall of the Nikos Sampson regime. Diplomatic talks in Geneva between Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom, and the Cypriot communities failed. Turkey launched the second and expanded phase, Operation Atilla II, on 14 August, rapidly advancing to capture approximately 37% of the island's territory, including the cities of Varosha, Morphou, and Lefka.

Military and political aftermath

The military action concluded on 18 August 1974, establishing the Attila Line (or Green Line) which bisected Nicosia and the island. In 1975, the Turkish-occupied area was declared the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, which unilaterally proclaimed independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983, recognized only by Turkey. The Republic of Cyprus retained international recognition and control over the south. The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus was established and monitored by UNFICYP. Subsequent diplomatic efforts, including the Annan Plan in 2004, have failed to reunify the island. Key crossing points like the Ledra Street checkpoint opened in 2003, easing movement.

Casualties and displacement

The invasion resulted in significant loss of life and a major humanitarian catastrophe. Military casualties are estimated at 568 Turkish soldiers killed and between 4,500 to 6,000 Greek Cypriot and Greek forces killed. Civilian deaths ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 Greek Cypriots and 500 to 1,000 Turkish Cypriots. The conflict caused the displacement of approximately 162,000 Greek Cypriots from the north and 48,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south. The Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda massacre and the Killings of Turkish Cypriots at Tochni are among the tragic events of the period. The sealed-off suburb of Varosha became a potent symbol of the displacement and ongoing dispute.

International reaction and legal status

The international response was largely critical of Turkey's actions. The United Nations Security Council passed resolutions, including 353 and 541, which called for the withdrawal of foreign troops and deemed the declaration of independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus legally invalid. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in cases like Loizidou v. Turkey that Turkey maintains effective control over northern Cyprus. The European Union admitted the Republic of Cyprus in 2004, with the *acquis communautaire* suspended in the north. Key diplomatic actors have included the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Nations, with numerous rounds of talks under UN auspices, such as the Crans-Montana negotiations, failing to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

Category:Cyprus Category:Wars involving Turkey Category:1974 in Turkey Category:20th-century conflicts