Military History of Cyprus - Operational History

Operational History

The Cypriot National Guard has been involved in multiple combat operations, all within Cyprus territory.

• In 1964, Cyprus and Turkey engaged in direct confrontation during the Battle of Tylliria, as a result of civil warfare between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Greek Cypriot forces invaded the Turkish Cypriot coastal enclave of Kokkina in an effort to eliminate a Turkish beachhead, resulting in almost two weeks of fighting.

• In 1974, Turkey launched an all out surprise attack on Cyprus on the pretext of intervening against a military coup by the Cyprus National Guard in Nicosia. The invasion resulted in two concentrated Turkish offensives (Attila-1 and Attila-2) and one dispersed Greek Cypriot counter-offensive (Aphrodite-2). Within one month, Turkish forces had captured 38% of the island's northern area, succeeding in bisecting Nicosia and taking Kyrenia, Morphou and Famagusta. Cypriot National Guard forces, supported by a smaller number of Greek troops, were only able to prevent the loss of Nicosia International Airport and the Kato Pyrgos corridor during the second Turkish offensive.

• In 1978, Egyptian forces raided Larnaca International Airport in an effort to seize a hijacked Greek Cypriot airliner. Greek Cypriot commando and paramilitary forces resisted the Egyptian forces, resulting in a sustained gun battle with the death of 12 Egyptian commandos and 3 Egyptian Air Force aircrew.