Cyprus-Invasion 1974: Incompetence of the Turkish army shocked NATO – WELT
Only a three-week ceasefire, which came about on July 22 under pressure from the USA and NATO, changed the situation. While the fall of the military junta in Athens completely eliminated Greece as a supporter, the Turks increased their troops for their “Operation Atilla II” on the island to 32,000 men, plus numerous tanks, armored troop carriers and guns. The 45,000 Greek Cypriot fighters had nothing to oppose them. Between August 13 and 17, the Turks captured the airfields of Nicosia and Tibou and occupied large parts of Nicosia. When a new truce came into effect, they controlled more than a third of the island and hailed the venture as a major victory.