Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces

Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Logo of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command
Active	1974–present
Country	Turkey
Allegiance	Turkish Armed Forces
Size	Corps
Headquarters	Girne
Engagements	Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Commanders
Commander	Lt. Gen. Ömer Paç
Chief of staff	Col. Sedat Özüer

The Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kıbrıs'taki Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri), officially Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı) is the Turkish garrison on Cyprus. In 1974 Turkish troops invaded Cyprus following a Greek Cypriot coup (organized and supported by the Greek government, which was still in the hands of a military junta) which wanted to force union with Greece, occupying the northern third of the island. The invasion force, which consisted of about 40,000 soldiers and 200 tanks, subsequently was reduced to a garrison of 17,000 troops. It outnumbers the Greek military contingent on the island, which is supplemented by the Greek Cypriot National Guard of 12,000 active and 75,000 reserves. Air reinforcement of the Turkish troops can be effected, if necessary, within hours. Nevertheless, the unresolved dispute over Cyprus complicates Turkish participation in NATO and remains an obstacle to NATO's effectiveness in the region.

Turkey maintained the Cyprus Turkish Regiment (Kıbrıs Türk Alayı) in the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. On 16 August 1960, the brigade was organized as follows:

In July 1974, Turkey landed forces on the northern part of Cyprus after the military coup of July 15, 1974. Turkish forces involved in operations were as follows:

It has been on Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974, and initially consisted of the following Turkish Army units:

The corps reserve was at Kythrea (Değirmenlik) to the northeast of Nicosia.