Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Date

20 July – 18 August 1974

Location

Cyprus

Result

Ceasefire armistice;

Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus (37% of the island's area)

Belligerents

Turkey

Turkish Cypriot fighters

Cyprus
Greece

EOKA-B Greek Cypriot paramilitary

Commanders and leaders

Lt. Gen Nurettin Ersin (6th Corps),

Maj.Gen. Bedrettin Demirel (39th Division),

Maj.Gen. Osman Fazıl Polat (28th Division),

Brig.Gen. Süleyman Tuncer ("Cakmak" Amphibious Brigade),

Brig.Gen. Hakki Boratas ("Bora" Force),

Brig.Gen. Sabri Demirbağ (Commando Brigade),

Brig.Gen. Sabri Evren (Parachute Brigade)

Col. M. Katircioglu (KTKA regiment)

Brig. Gen Mihail Georgitsis [until 30 July]/Lt. Gen Efthymios Karayannis [after 30 July] (Chiefs of Staff of the National Guard),

Col. Konstantinos Kombokis (Commando Command (regiment)),

Col. Nikolaos Nikolaidis (ELDYK regiment)

Strength

Turkish Cypriot enclaves:
11,000–13,500 men, up to 20,000 under full mobilization (Greek claim)

Turkey:
40,000 men
160–180 M47 and M48 tanks

Cyprus:
12,000 men standing strength-40,000 fully mobilised (theoretical)
32 T-34/85 tanks

included in above strength:

Greece:
2,000+ men

Casualties and losses

Turkish Cypriot fighters:
70 killed
1,000 wounded (including civilians)

Turkish Armed Forces:
498 killed
1,200 wounded

Total: 2,768

Greek-Cypriot military personnel:
309 killed
909 missing
1,141 wounded

mainland Greek military personnel:
88 killed
83 missing
148 wounded

Total:
397 killed
992 missing
1,269 wounded
937 captured
Total: 3,595

UNFICYP:
9 killed
65 wounded
Total: 74

Only military casualties are included in this table.

Ceasefire armistice;

Cyprus
Greece

Cyprus:
12,000 men standing strength-40,000 fully mobilised (theoretical)
32 T-34/85 tanks

included in above strength:

In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern portion of the Republic of Cyprus in response to a military coup taking place on the island, in attempt to annex the island to Greece. Turkey claimed that this was an intervention in accordance to Treaty of Guarantee. The invasion consisted of two major Turkish offensives, and involved air, land and sea combat operations. The Greek Cypriot armed forces attempted to resist and respond to the attacks as part of a coordinated defence plan which proved inadequate to deal with the forces that Turkey was able to bring to bear, and the war resulted in a ceasefire which persists until the present day.

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Wikipedia