Cyprus Marks 51st Anniversary of Turkish Invasion with Island-Wide Memorials

Cyprus commemorated the 51st anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion, a pivotal and traumatic event that divided the island and displaced roughly 200,000 Greek Cypriots. Sirens sounded at 5:30 a.m., marking the exact time of the invasion, followed by memorials and official ceremonies across the free areas of Cyprus, including prayer services at the Tomb of Makedonitissa and the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia, with the president attending and addressing the nation. The invasion, launched under the code name "Operation Attila" by some 40,000 Turkish troops, followed a coup d’état in Cyprus and was justified by Turkey as a "peaceful intervention" to protect Turkish Cypriots, a claim widely disputed and condemned as a violation of international law. The attack resulted in extensive civilian casualties, destruction, and the ongoing occupation of 37% of Cyprus’s territory. The commemoration serves both as a remembrance of the fallen and a call for resolution regarding missing persons and the island’s continued division. Government officials also laid wreaths at various churches to honor victims and reaffirm Cyprus’s condemnation of the invasion.