In 1974, a military coup in Greece sparked the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
A bold political gamble in the Mediterranean backfired when a Greek-backed coup triggered a massive Turkish military intervention, forever altering the landscape of Cyprus and creating a divided island that remains split today.
In July 1974, the Greek military junta orchestrated a coup to overthrow President Makarios III, aiming to unite Cyprus with Greece. This power grab provided Turkey with a justification to launch a massive seaborne invasion to protect the Turkish Cypriot minority.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz