Following the EOKA overthrow of the Cypriot government of Archbishop Makarios on 15 Jul 1974, Turkey launched an invasion from the north coast and pushed southwards, effectively partitioning the island; this was known as Operation Attila by the Turks.

While the British government sent a Task Force to the area to protect the Sovereign Bases, evacuate British nationals if necessary and aid in security stabilisation, the US detached USS Forrestal and USS Inchon from the 6th Fleet for support of its nationals.

Even though British sponsored talks between the two communities in Geneva had broken down, the situation had stabilised enough to allow the Task Force to be withdrawn at the end of September.