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The Turkish invasion of Cyprus was a small conflict between July - August 1974.

The invasion came after the Athens Junta overthrew Makarios, the leader of Cyprus at the time. Turkey had feared a Greek annexation with Greece and therefore acted upon her treaty obligations per the treaty of guarantee, regardless that no Turkish Cypriots were involved in the conflict and was a Greek/Greek Cypriot internal affair. The subsequent illegal Turkish partition of the island had brought about renewed hosilitiy between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, who had been at peace with eachother for 8 years prior.

Turkish Invasion[]

The Turkish invasion took place in two stages and ended in August 1974, when Turkish troops occupied 37% of the island's territory, which was followed by the establishment of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that only Turkey recognizes, in contradiction of the terms of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.

Today a ceasefire line, known as the Green Line, separates the two Cypriots communities in Cyprus, and is full of UN peacekeepers. Turkey's military occupation of north Cyprus is thought to be one of the reasons why the country is not accessed into the European Union.

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The original article can be found at Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the edit history here.
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